Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson D

I’d like to thank Wild Turkey and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

Something momentous happened this week. No, not that. I’m not talking about Halloween, my favorite holiday. I’m talking about rain. Specifically, the over six inches of it that I’ve gotten since Sunday. Can you believe that? And me with two puppies in the house dying to go run around outside and a couple of walls that needed painting. It’s certainly been a week, even though it is only half over.

But you aren’t here to hear me whine about the lousy weather. You want to know all about that little sample of whiskey at the top of the post. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson D is the fifth release in their Single Rickhouse Collection. According to the press release, “the Collection explores whiskey ‘terroir,’ how the precise location and environment of a rickhouse can influence a whiskey’s character even when the foundational elements and recipe remain constant.” That’s a fun experiment.

I’ve often thought of a similar one that would be way too expensive for me to perform, but that would be fun to see. I’d love to see a producer, probably a small one with the flexibility to do things like this, distill a batch of whiskey and then age it in different parts of the country. Maybe they could collaborate with other small distilleries around the country as places to age their whiskey. The whole thought being to age the same product for the same amount of time in wildly different climates and then put it out as a set so that folks like me who are really geeky about this stuff could have lots of fun with it. And probably spend more for it than we would for that same amount otherwise. But until that day happens, we will have to be satisfied with releases like tonight’s, where we get to see what difference even small variations in aging conditions can make to a bourbon.

Quoting the press release again:

The 2026 edition demonstrates Eddie Russell’s skill in barrel curation. As he and his team tasted through Camp Nelson D, they found themselves drawn to barrels from nearly every floor of the rickhouse, ultimately selecting barrels from floors one, three, four, five, and six. Drawing from more floors than any previous Single Rickhouse release, the warehouse’s distinct location allowed Russell to build a whiskey that balanced fruit-forward sweetness with the bold spice notes that became the hallmark of the final blend.

“We don’t typically draw from the first floor,” Russell said. “But some of the barrels we tasted down there contributed an earthy character that helped build the spicy, rye-like profile we found ourselves chasing. Once we realized what was developing, we leaned into it. This is the first Single Rickhouse release where, tasted blind, you'd bet it was a rye.”

So, let’s see how this one tastes, shall we?

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson D

Purchase Info: This was provided by the producer for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $300 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 ML): $20.00

Details: 60.4% ABV

Nose: Leather, toffee, oak, cherry, and milk chocolate.

Mouth: Follows the nose with toffee, chocolate, cherry, leather, oak and cinnamon.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Notes of chocolate, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: This is really, really good. Too expensive for my budget, but absolutely delicious all the same. It’s full of oak-derived notes of leather, chocolate, and of course, oak. It's sweet and not nearly as hot as the proof would suggest. It's surprisingly approachable neat, though it takes a splash of water well too. Water amps up the spiciness a little, but not enough to be too remarkable. This would be getting a heart rating if not for the price. It is really good.

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Four Roses Experimental Series No. 002 Honey Cask Finish

I’d like to thank Four Roses and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

My friends! Four Roses is experimenting again, and this time they came up with something that is near and dear to my heart. There are four types of food and beverages that I hope I never need to live without. One is coffee. I mean, you don't even want to speak to me before coffee. I'm not grumpy or anything, I just won't remember a damn thing you said, as I wouldn't be able to hear you over the constant repetition of "I'm so tired…" over and over in my head.

The second is pizza. I've spent the last twenty-five years developing and tweaking a crust and sauce combo that is right up the alley of this Midwestern boy. Richly spiced and cooked sauce on a sourdough crust. Definitely something that will be hated by New York-style purists who only want their sauce to have tomato, salt, and maybe a little oil or basil if they are feeling fancy. Nope, I'm loving my Midwestern roots here, and my sauce reflects the style of the places I grew up with.

Of course, there is bourbon. Though if you expanded that to aged spirits, you'd be more on the nose these days. I do love me some bourbon and rye, but I also love me some brandy as well. Though the brandies I like tend to be the more expensive expressions.

And finally, there is honey. I know, it's not really in line with the rest of these. I can do without most sweeteners in my daily life. I don't really sweeten things too much unless I'm making a cocktail or a dessert. And the cocktail? I'm probably making that on the drier side of what is considered normal. But if I had to pick one sweetener to keep for the rest of my life, forsaking all others? That one would be honey. Now, I've had the thought, "I bet this bourbon would be good with some honey in it!" But I've never organically had the thought, "Boy, I bet this honey would be great with some bourbon in it!"

I say that, even though there are at least three bourbon barrel-aged honeys on the site, one of which is from Four Roses and plays into the creation of tonight's bourbon. See, Four Roses' Honey is aged in Four Roses bourbon barrels. And once those barrels were emptied of honey, some of them got some bourbon put back in them. Here is what the company has to say about the release:

“One of the things I love most about this release is how naturally it came together, ” said Master Distiller Brent Elliott. “It simply started with barrels that had already taken on a unique character. The honey is there from the moment you bring the glass to your nose, but it’s never artificial or overpowering. If you have the chance to taste it alongside our Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey, you can really appreciate the journey those barrels have taken and the role they’ve played in both products.”

Experimental Series No. 002 blends six-, seven- , and eight-year-old bourbons from the OESQ and OBSK recipes before finishing in the honey-seasoned barrels for three to nine months. The selected barrels were blended and bottled at 104 proof to preserve the balance between classic Four Roses character and the subtle influence of the honey casks.

This bourbon went on sale at both Four Roses Visitor Centers starting on September 18th at a suggested retail price of $55 per 375 mL bottle. Since I'm about a month late posting this, I don't know if they still have them, but it never hurts to stop in and check them out if you are in the area.

Four Roses Experimental Series No. 002 Honey Casts Finish

Purchase Info: This was provided by the producer for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $55 for a 375 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $7.33

Details: 52% ABV. Finished in honey casks.

Nose: Lots of honey right off the bat. Under that are notes of oak, floral vanilla, and baking spice.

Mouth: Spicy and hot in the mouth with notes of cinnamon, honey, nutmeg, vanilla, and oak.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Notes of honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, and floral vanilla.

Thoughts: I wasn't sure what to expect with this. The idea of putting honey in a bourbon barrel, emptying it, and refilling it with bourbon might have led to a very sweet drink. "So, a liqueur," I thought to myself upon opening the box. Then I noticed the proof. 104 proof. "So, not a liqueur then," I said aloud.

Upon sitting down to nose the liquid in my glass, I was struck by honey so strong that at first I didn't notice anything else. But little by little, other notes appeared. My first sip was spicy. Just super hot. "Nope, definitely not a liqueur," I thought.

Subsequent sips would start cool, gentle even. But as you held it in your mouth to try to tease out the notes on the palate, it just got hotter and hotter and hotter until you were forced to swallow just so you didn't burn out your taste buds. Finally, I was able to tease out other notes hiding under the honey and spicy cinnamon.

The finish sticks with you for a while, too. I went with a longer medium length but could be talked into just saying it's long, too. I quite like this. It's sweet and spicy. There are lovely floral notes throughout. I'm really shocked at just how hot this is. And that heat makes it a lovely bourbon for an Old Fashioned. Especially if you use the Four Roses Honey. Really like this one.

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Remus Repeal Reserve Rye, 2026

I’d like to thank the folks at Ross & Squibb and their PR partners for sending this with no strings attached.

Time for another Remus Repeal Post! Ross & Squibb was nice enough to release a second Remus Repeal Reserve this year, so why not a second post to celebrate? So what is Remus Repeal Reserve Rye? Well, let's let the producer have their say on that:

This year, Remus is also celebrating the repeal of Prohibition with the introduction of Remus Repeal Reserve Rye Whiskey. This limited-edition straight rye, a first for the brand, is comprised of 2015 and 2016 reserves of Remus' signature 95% rye mash bill, bottled at 111 proof. Remus Repeal Reserve Rye Whiskey will be available at select retailers nationwide beginning this September, while supplies last, for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

Well, that pretty much covers it, doesn't it? I am really looking forward to this one. Not only are the MGP-style 95% rye whiskeys some of my favorite ryes on the market, but well-aged ones have always been some of the best of the best. This is a blend of somewhere between 9- and 11-year-old ryes (depending on when they were dumped), and in my opinion, that is just the perfect range for it. That's just past experience, though. Let's see how this one tastes.

Remus Repeal Reserve Rye

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 55.5% ABV. This is a blend of 60% of their 95% rye whiskey from 2015 and 40% of their 95% rye whiskey from 2016.

Nose: Leather, oak, brown sugar, campfire smoke, vanilla, and mixed nuts.

Mouth: Cinnamon, cedar, honey, anise, toffee, herbal dill, leather, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long with notes of toffee, anise, dill, honey, and oak.

Thoughts: This is downright fantastic. It's made by amazing blenders with access to even more amazing stocks to pull from. I love it. The oak, the leather, the herbal notes, the sweetness. It's just perfect. No notes. Love it.

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Remus Repeal Reserve Series X, 2026

I’d like to thank the folks at Ross & Squibb and their PR partners for sending this with no strings attached.

Hello, my friends! Tonight we have a product that is always a joy to cover. Because I don’t know about you, but I like knowing that what I’m about to put in my mouth is something good. I hate needing to do that little hesitation before the first nosing or sip. Which is why this is one of those annual releases that I particularly love covering. It's always good, and if it manages to surprise me, it's usually because it's even better than I expected.

So what does Series X of Remus Repeal Reserve bring to us tonight? Are there any surprises? Good or bad? Well, the first surprise is that they've been putting these out for 10 years now!! I don't even know how that's possible. I swear to goodness, I turned 50 and everything all of a sudden turned upside down.

I was also surprised to notice in the press release that, much like another former Seagram's distillery, Ross & Squibb is now using the internal recipe codes in their press releases (for example, LBSV is the 36% rye bourbon, LESV is the 21% rye bourbon, and LISV is a 49% rye bourbon with a mash bill of 51% corn, 39% rye, and 10% malted rye). That is interesting to a geek like me. Of course, this has probably been known for a while. I am a bit slow to recognize things at times.

The last surprise is just what is in this one. As usual, this is a blended bourbon created the Ross & Squibb stocks. This one is made from 17% LISV from 2017, 35% LBSV from 2016, 19% LBSV from 2014, 15% LESV from 2016, and 14% LESV from 2008. It's got old bourbon and really old bourbon in the blend. The 750 mL bottle is bottled at 107 proof and started its nationwide rollout in September for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

Let's see how it tastes.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series X

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $79.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 53.5% ABV. A blend of the following bourbons: 17% – 2017 49% rye bourbon, 35% – 2016 36% rye bourbon, 19% – 2014 36% rye bourbon, 15% – 2016 21% rye bourbon, and 14% – 2008 21% rye bourbon.

Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, mixed berry cobbler, and oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, oak, red fruit, vanilla, and caramel.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium length. Notes of cinnamon, floral vanilla, coconut, red fruit, and oak.

Thoughts: This is delicious. I'm really enjoying the spiciness of the mouth paired with the depth of the finish. It's sweet without being cloying and spicy without being overpowering. Once again, the blenders at Ross & Squibb are showing they are among the best in the business. I really like this.

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Redemption Single Barrel Bonded Bourbon

I’d like to thank Redemption Whiskey and their PR partners for providing this with no strings attached.

Hello friends! I am sorry about last week. I still had vacation brain and was completely unable to focus enough to even do a tasting, much less write. Which really is a shame. That meant I needed to wait an entire extra week in order to let you know about a new release from Redemption.

Because, as you might have guessed, I’ve been sitting on this one (and others) since before vacation. I’ve got quite the mess of samples lined up. October should be fun.

So what is this new bourbon from Redemption? It is a single barrel, bottled-in-bond bourbon. Already sounds pretty good. I do love me a Bonded bourbon. It was sourced from the usual suspects in Indiana using their 36% rye mash bill (my favorite from them). And to top it off, it’s six years old. And seeing as my favorite age range is from six to eight years old, it almost seems like they made this one just for me.

So what does the producer have to say about it?

The release marks Redemption’s first bottled-in-bond expression and the first release in the brand’s relaunched Higher Marques Collection, its ultra-premium tier of elevated expressions. Selected by Master Blender Alan Kennedy, each barrel is chosen for character, structure and balance, then bottled non-chill filtered by Redemption Barrel Selections in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Redemption Single Barrel Bonded Bourbon is available now at a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle. Let’s see if the flavor is as good as the stats are.

Redemption Single Barrel Bonded Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 50% ABV. 6 years old. Mash Bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley. Barrel number: 100.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, cherry, bubble gum, and oak.

Mouth: Caramel, vanilla, almond, cinnamon, ginger, and lots of oak.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of vanilla, cinnamon, oak, and a hint of citrus and ginger.

Thoughts: That initial nose reminds me of the good, solid bourbons that got me into bourbon in the first place. Sweet, some fruit, and oak. The mouth brings more spice in the form of ginger and cinnamon, along with even more oak. The finish brings a hint of citrus and ginger that almost reminds me of a cola. This is delicious. I really like this one.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026

I’d like to thank Maker’s Mark and their PR partners for sending this sample with no strings attached.

As you read this, I am still on vacation, having written this prior to leaving. If things are on track, I should be arriving in Portland, OR, on my way home from Northern California just about the time this goes live. I plan to spend as much of the day as needed at Powell’s Books during my two-night stay. I may need to take an Uber back to the hotel even though I’m staying within walking distance. I hope I left enough room in the car we will be driving home…

But you aren’t here for The Continuing Adventures of Eric. You want to know about whatever tonight’s bourbon is. And that would be the latest release in Maker’s Mark’s Cellar Aged lineup. This year’s release is a blend of 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old bourbons. The bourbon was bottled at 112.1 proof. The suggested retail price is $175 for a 700 mL bottle. Before we dig in, here is what the producer has to say about the release:

"The limestone shelf that surrounds Star Hill Farm has shaped our bourbon from the very beginning, thanks to the innovative spirit of my grandparents, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., who chose this land in 1953 for its exceptional water source and natural watershed," said Rob Samuels, Maker's Mark managing director and eighth-generation whisky maker.

"Decades later, we made what some considered an unreasonable decision to build a LEED-certified cellar into that same limestone shelf, allowing us to extend maturation while preserving the balance that defines Maker's Mark. This year's Cellar Aged release is a testament to how our environment continues to shape the whisky's final profile."

"Cellar Aged represents our pursuit of flavor through patience, precision and a deep understanding of how bourbon evolves over time," said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller for Maker's Mark. "After aging in our traditional warehouses, the bourbon spends additional time in our limestone cellar, where cooler maturation allows the fruit to shine while keeping the oak in balance."

Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2026

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $175 for a 700 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $12.50

Details: 56.05% ABV. A blend of 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old, and 18% 14-year-old bourbons.

Nose: Floral vanilla, rich tobacco and cedar, caramel, and oak.

Mouth: Toffee, nutmeg, allspice, tobacco, leather, cedar, and oak.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of toffee, cedar, oak, and leather.

Thoughts: Right off the bat, the nose is wonderful. It’s like walking into a humidor, if said humidor contained delicious cookies as well as cigars. The mouth is as spicy as you would expect for roughly 112 proof. Very rich in the mouth with luscious toffee and baking spice notes, along with rich cedar, tobacco, and leather notes and a wonderfully thick mouthfeel. To quote vintage Maker’s Mark ads: “It tastes expensive… and is.” The price is too high for my bourbon budget, but it really is delicious. So if you’ve got the cash, this is one to check out. Very, very good. I like it.

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Heaven Hill Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this sample with no strings attached.

I am currently on a well-deserved vacation, at least as you read this. I wrote it ahead of time. Since I work from home, it has been almost a year since I’ve been out of the house for more than a few hours at a time. And I need to get the heck out of here. As such, we will be cribbing heavily from the press release in the intro. It seems there are always more things to do before vacation than there is time to do them.

Last month, Heaven Hill released a line extension to its Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. Heaven Hill Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond is a blend of Heaven Hill’s two bourbon mash bills: their Traditional 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley mash bill and their Wheated 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley mash bill. They were blended in a ratio of two-thirds Traditional to one-third Wheated. Both mash bills were aged for nine years.

Here is what the producer has to say about this new bourbon:

As the leader in Bottled-in-Bond whiskey, Heaven Hill Distillery developed Double Mash to demonstrate both its deep understanding of Bourbon production and the unique opportunities that exist within the Bottled-in-Bond designation. While Wheated Bourbon has become one of the whiskey world’s most sought-after styles, it is not recognized as a separate legal classification under U.S. whiskey regulations. That distinction allowed Heaven Hill’s whiskey makers to thoughtfully unite traditional and wheated Bottled-in-Bond Bourbons into a single expression, creating a whiskey unlike any other currently on the market.

“At Heaven Hill, innovation begins with a deep respect for tradition,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Master Distiller at Heaven Hill Distillery. “Double Mash is a reflection of our understanding of both Bourbon making and the Bottled-in-Bond standards that have defined quality American whiskey for more than a century. By bringing together our traditional and Wheated Bourbon mashbills, we’ve created a first-of-its-kind Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that delivers a distinctly different tasting experience while remaining true to the craftsmanship and authenticity that define Heaven Hill.”

A complement to Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, Double Mash carries a nine-year age statement, allowing additional maturation to enhance its depth and complexity while delivering a uniquely balanced flavor profile.

This release will be available in limited quantities nationwide with a suggested retail price of $49.99. Now let’s dig in.

Heaven Hill Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: Blend of Wheated and Traditional Bourbon mash bills. 50% ABV. 9 years old.

Nose: Creamy vanilla, caramel, bubble gum, and oak.

Mouth: Spicier than the nose would lead you to believe. Notes of caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, cola, cedar, and oak.

Finish: Warm and on the longer end of medium length. Notes of oak, cinnamon, humidor, and bubble gum linger.

Thoughts: This is a tasty bourbon. I found it to be more oak-forward than I had expected after nosing it. The oak notes really hit on the mouth and finish. It’s nice and spicy with lovely cinnamon. The bubble gum notes on the nose and finish lend a playful note to what could have been a very stereotypical bourbon. I’d happily buy this one. I like it.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. We don’t take ads, paid placement, or paid articles and are supported only by your generosity.

Four Roses Bourbon 100 Proof

I’d like to thank Four Roses and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

As we discussed last week, I am a long-time fan of Four Roses. Discovering Four Roses was a foundational development in my bourbon journey. In a way, if you enjoy this site, you have Four Roses to thank for it, at least in part. Four Roses was where I discovered the geeky joy that blending can bring (though at one point they would have preferred I use a different word, as blended whiskey was a dark part of their own journey).

The idea that a company was distilling 10 different bourbons and only showcasing a handful of them (at least when I started my love affair with the brand) was mind-blowing to me. As you went up in price on their three core releases, you got more and more proof but fewer and fewer of the recipes in the mix. The prime position went to Single Barrel, which by definition could only have one recipe. They chose OBSV at 100 proof for that. Small Batch was the next lowest in price and proof, using a mix of OBSK, OBSO, OESK, and OESO at 90 proof. And then there was “Yellow Label,” nicknamed as such because, you guessed it, it had a bright yellow label. It had all ten of the recipes (most of the time; I have it on good authority that occasionally only nine make it in there depending on stocks) at only 80 proof.

And the lack of proof on that Yellow Label caused much sadness among bourbon aficionados. The flavor was amazing. The mouthfeel and depth of flavor? Not so much. Not at that proof. Though that hasn’t stopped me from picking it up now and again and then publicly whining about wanting a higher-proof version of their lowest-proof offering. One time, a long time ago, I even made a barrel-proof blend of all ten recipes from store picks that I had picked up. Back then, it was easier to do such things.

So it was with great joy that I opened an email from the Four Roses PR team that was titled: “Four Roses 100 Proof Rolls Out in Bars Nationwide.” I immediately asked if there would be samples and if it was also going to be available at retail. The answer I got to both was yes. This release was developed for bartenders because they wanted a higher-proof version for use in cocktails. But I was assured “it is not exclusive to the on-premise channel” (though there was some confusion on that at first, so you may see others stating otherwise if they published before the correction came out). The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle and $32.99 for a liter.

Let’s dig in.

Four Roses Bourbon 100 proof

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle or $32.99 for a liter.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.00 (750 mL) or $1.65 (liter)

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Floral vanilla, caramel, red fruit, mint, chocolate, and a touch of cinnamon.

Mouth: Spicy cinnamon, caramel, stone fruit, and oak.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of cherry, cinnamon, chocolate, and oak.

Thoughts: This is so good! It has nice spice. The mouthfeel is very nice. There is a robustness that the 80 proof is lacking. In fact, that robustness is the main difference between the two. The 80 proof might be a little more fruit-forward, but the added spice, caramel, and oak notes make up for that, in my opinion. As I mentioned above, I’ve always wanted just a little more proof, going all the way back to the Yellow Label days. I even tried diluting that barrel-proof mix down to alternative proofs, including 90 and 100 proof just to see how it would react. And honestly, this release is pretty much what I was hoping for with all those experiments. Maybe a little more fruit would be nice, but now I’m quibbling. And it does work very well in a cocktail, holding up nicely to dilution. I’ve spent 12 years publicly, and privately, asking for a release like this and I am so happy with it.

Never give up on your dreams, kids.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. We don’t take ads, paid placement, or paid articles and are supported only by your generosity.