Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon Launch @ Grain Bar Sydney.

An Aussie launch for an American whiskey, and it was not just the excellent, aged ten years Russell's Reserve Kentucky Bourbon on show at Grain Bar; this was the real treat, Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and son Eddie, Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame, both speaking from the floor about their work making bourbon whiskey and signing our gift bottles later in the evening. I'm not going to pretend a review but I will say that on the night there were two Russell's Reserve Bourbons lining the bar floor to ceiling, quite literally, the ten year old Small Batch 45% and the Single Batch a wee bit stronger at 55%. I was able to wrangle a side by side tasting of both for myself; and before I say anything else I will admit that I am an occasional Scotch Whisky drinker (no E), single malt preferred, the peatier the better.. and have only tried Bourbon Whiskey once or twice before. Both of the  Russell's Reserve's or should I say all three (there was the Masters Keep!!!) tasting at the end; were superb.

During the talk (they certainly weren't speeches) by Eddie and Jimmy we were given a quick overview of a life making Bourbon, since 1954 for Master Distiller Jimmy. Australia is the largest non-domestic market and; shock horror, much-older bourbon is not necessarily better! In conversation with Eddie I asked why; apparently it has a lot to do with the local climate, temperature changes, "it's not Scotland"! However Wild Turkey have built a brick barrel house to allow for longer ageing without the drawback-characteristics of using new barrels; as all Scotch drinkers know, the colour of the whisky comes from the used oak sherry barrels; this is not permitted in the making of Bourbon which uses new barrels charred on the inside to create the colour and the distinctive flavour - too much time though and the taste can become unfavourable. There were no unfavourable flavours here, I am a new convert to Bourbon with a new range of spirits to explore. And my preference from my tasting? I leant toward the stronger single barrel. Enjoy responsibly!

Thank you to Wild Turkey, Jimmy and Eddie Russell and The Trish Nicol Agency.
wildturkeybourbon.com

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Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

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