Author name: rarebird101

Russell’s Reserve 10-Year (2022)

Some things you can always count on – a fresh-brewed cup of coffee in the morning, an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a summer’s afternoon, and the tried and true well-aged profile of Russell’s Reserve 10-Year. But then, maybe one of those, not so …

Revisiting Diamond Anniversary

Some bottles I take for granted. For whatever reason –  lack of excitement, greater attention to alternatives, or simply lost to the ever-increasing tide of new releases – I move on. Inevitably, regret kicks in. Not because of monetary…

Russell’s Reserve Primer

Believe it or not, Russell’s Reserve has occupied liquor store shelves for over twenty years. In that time, the esteemed brand has experienced a great deal of change in expressions, appearances, and production. Yet, there’s one thing that’s remained co…

Bourbon Burnout

I recently happened upon a Twitter thread suggesting a sense of apathy is growing in the whiskey community. It seems some longtimers, and possibly some newcomers, are burned out with the surging popularity of American whiskey. I don’t consider myself a…

Spirit of Collaboration

Each time I visit Kentucky, I return with a greater sense of self. Though I’ve lived in South Carolina my entire life, Kentucky feels like home. Be it Lawrenceburg, Louisville, or miles of borderless farmland, I always feel welcome, as if I belong. I s…

Private Barrel Reboot

What’s up with Wild Turkey’s private barrel program? That’s the question I’ve been fielding lately, and I understand why. There have been notable delays, with some 2020-2021 bottles taking over a year to make it to retailers post selection. As for 2022…

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye (2019)

It’s been well over two years since I last reviewed Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye. If you’re finding that hard to believe, I’m right there with you. There was no conscious decision; I haven’t intentionally avoided it. I suppose the introduction o…

1990 Wild Turkey 101

There was a time I was convinced I could review a Wild Turkey 101 bottling from every year. Well, maybe not every year. But from 1971 onward, sure. Things started well. Within the first three years of this blog, I managed to cover numerous releases fro…

Going West

A brief change of direction … Back in September, I had the pleasure of selecting a Westland American Single Malt Whiskey cask in collaboration with Malt Review and friends. It was an exciting tasting, with three distinct casks to consider. The first, c…

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