Russell’s Reserve extends Single Rickhouse series
Campari Group-owned Russell's Reserve Bourbon has introduced the second whiskey in its Single Rickhouse Collection.
Russell's Reserve continues its exploration of warehouse locations with Russell’s Reserve Camp Nelson F, the second release in the brand's Single Rickhouse range. The series launched in 2022 with Camp Nelson C, which aimed to showcase how specific barrel placement impacts a flavour. The whiskey was met with instant fanfare, giving the brand another hit following the success of its limited edition 13 year old expression. Master distiller Eddie Russell was feeling the pressure then, to follow it up with his next release. "We knew we had big shoes to fill with our second Single Rickhouse release," Russell said. "I didn't expect we'd release two Camp Nelson whiskeys back-to-back, but after just one sip from those Camp Nelson F barrels, I knew we had to bring this whiskey to our fans – it's too special not to share.” While the whiskeys were taken from the same location, they don’t necessarily taste similar. Russell said Camp Nelson C mirrored his preferences of caramel, crème brûlée, and toffee, while Camp Nelson F features big, bold oak. Camp Nelson Rickhouse F was built in the 1940s and sits lower than other rickhouses on the grounds. The airflow and wind currents from the nearby Kentucky River are thought to benefit these barrels, making the rickhouse popular for the distillery’s private barrel selection program. For this release, Russell chose barrels from floors four and five of the seven-story building. He calls it one of the best whiskeys they’ve ever made. Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson F is Kentucky straight Bourbon bottled at a barrel proof of 58.5% ABV and priced at US$300. Tasting notes include clove, white pepper, caramel, orange peel, and dark fruits. In other Campari Group news, CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz will retire in April 2024 after 16 years in the role.
