Top 7 Afterparty & Late Night Bottles: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

We’re rounding onto the back half of this all-heavy hitters list, and we’re again going back to Kentucky for this one.

I could just direct you to @bendrinksbourbon post from this weekend here, because his thoughts are literally the same as mine on this criminally unsung bottle. Because somehow, everyone agrees that Russell’s Single Barrel is one of the last truly outstanding all-star bourbons that can be readily found, and at a mere $60, it’s also a bargain for what you get. Some of the more astute shoppers among us will recognize the phrase “single barrel Kentucky bourbon for $60” as Blanton’s at MSRP, and that is indeed the obvious comparison to make. So let’s make it.

For my tastes, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel blows Blanton’s out of the water, and it’s not particularly close. The depth and density in the Russell’s is bringing a magnitude of firepower I rarely find in the standard bottling of Blanton’s, whereas *every* bottle of Russell’s Single Barrel I’ve ever had brings the goods with maximum effort. If I walked into a store tomorrow and Blanton’s and Russell’s Single Barrel were both there for MSRP, I’m spending my filthy lucre on the Russell’s and leaving very happy. The best/strangest part? *This is the one we common folk can actually find.* There are in fact armories full of these oak, vanilla, and dark fruit warheads all across America, and you don’t need a blackmail dossier of a State Senator to obtain one. I’m not sure if it’s the 93 vs. 110 proof, the mashbill, the Russell’s being non-chill filtered or what, but there’s worlds of difference in the attitude each brings.

I’ve heard bottles that drink like unicorns but look like workhorses called BoJack bottles in the past. And friend, this is *the* BoJack Horseman bottle. You’ll more than feel like you got that free churro.

Image courtesy of Jon who also writes on Low Class & High Proof.

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