Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel Selection
Overall Score: 8/10
Overall Value: 4/5
Distillery: Wild Turkey
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Campari Group
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 110
Age: 9 Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Color: Butterscotch
MSRP: $70 (2025)
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose of this Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel Selection opens with darker notes of caramel, butterscotch, and fudge mingle with candy corn and peanuts, while a rich maple syrup sweetness adds depth. There’s also a little grape juice and fresh oak, making it both fun and complex.
The palate leans heavy and dark, silky and viscous with great flavors. Caramel, nougat, and chocolate-covered cherry stand out, alongside syrupy maraschino cherry and tootsie roll richness. While hints of leather and tobacco threaten to show up, the sweeter side ultimately wins, creating a well-balanced profile that feels like a higher-end bourbon.
The finish brings a touch of heat and oak, but it doesn’t overwhelm. Instead, it continues the candied cherry and dark sugar flavors, making it both comforting and complex—like unwinding by the fireplace with a cigar on a winter evening.
This Private Barrel Selection proves why these single barrel picks can be so rewarding. It’s richer and more dynamic than the standard Russell’s releases, with layers of candy sweetness, oak, and depth. At an MSRP around $70, it easily drinks above its price point, and if you spot one for sale, it’s worth grabbing. A standout pick that shows just how special Russell’s barrels can be.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 4/5
THE NOSE:
It reminds me of opening fresh cabinetry at a home improvement store.
I was also picking up a bit of fresh grape juice and maple syrup.
THE TASTE:
The mouthfeel is excellent, it’s silky and viscous.
This tastes like I’m eating a Maraschino Cherry with the candied syrupy decadence. I
t really pulls in those rich dark profiles and just a hint of aged oak.
THE FINISH:
The finish continues to develop that dark sugar candied cherry profile for me.
It feels like what I imagine slipping on an evening robe and lighting a nice cigar by a fireplace in the middle of winter would.
It’s palatable yet complex.
BUY OR PASS?
This really didn't drink like other Russells bottles that I’ve had, and it’s just a really well crafted whisky.
I loved all aspects of this pour, really hitting those rich dark notes and the perfect balance of oak. Two thumbs up from me.
The Hunter Says
Score: 8/10
Value: 4/5
THE NOSE:
This one hits all the darker notes I love—candy, caramel, butterscotch. It immediately reminded me of candy corn mixed with peanuts (the only right way to eat it).
There’s also this rich fudge note with a sprinkle of salt that makes it really fun to sit with.
Honestly, it’s one of those pours you just keep nosing because it keeps giving.
THE TASTE:
It leans heavy and dark. At first it feels like it might tip into leather and tobacco—which I don’t usually care for—but then it pulls back toward the sweeter side.
Caramel, nougat, butterscotch, and even a little chocolate-covered cherry and tootsie roll all come through.
That shift makes it really enjoyable.
THE FINISH:
The finish is where it stumbles just a bit.
There’s a surprising alcohol bite for a 9-year bourbon, but it still hangs onto some sweetness.
Oak shows up late and gives it a nice grounded touch.
BUY OR PASS?
Overall, I don’t usually love Russell’s picks because the peanut flavor tends to dominate, but this one surprised me. The candy sweetness and shifting flavors made it feel like a higher-end pour.
Makes me think I should probably grab more of these private barrels when I spot them.
