Russell’s Reserve reveals high-ABV Bourbon

Camp Nelson B is the third edition in the Single Rickhouse series and the highest proof Russell’s Reserve has released to date at 60.1% ABV.

Campari Group-owned Wild Turkey continues its exploration of warehouse locations with the latest release in its Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse line. The 2024 release comes from Camp Nelson Rickhouse B, where it benefitted from higher elevation and increased sun exposure. Master distiller Eddie Russell and his team selected barrels from the sixth floor of the warehouse. “The higher we went, the hotter it got, and the more oak we were getting on the whiskeys,” Russell said. “For Camp Nelson B, we wanted to make sure we were really showcasing the rich, dark honey and char notes that we tend to get from that rickhouse, and we had a feeling that the Bourbon we were looking for was sitting up there, enjoying the sun.” Russell's Reserve’s Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B is bottled at 60.1% ABV and priced at US$300. On the nose, it shows notes of oak, vanilla, sweet cream, and cinnamon spice, while the palate brings robust flavours of cherry, raisin, clove, and spearmint. The Single Rickhouse series debuted in 2022 with Camp Nelson C, with Camp Nelson F following the next year. The series explores whiskey terroir by examining how specific barrel locations influence flavour. Each release comes from a select number of rare stocks. Camp Nelson B showcases how ageing conditions can influence a whiskey’s proof. “To me, this bottling of Single Rickhouse embodies the essence of Russell’s Reserve and I couldn’t be prouder of the final product – it’s truly one of our best,” Russell said. The whiskey is available in limited quantities at select retailers and the Wild Turkey visitor centre in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Camp Nelson Rickhouse B was built in 1946. The seven-floor rickhouse is centrally located on the Camp Nelson grounds where it stands taller than previous iterations that occupied the same space. It is the highest ABV offering to date across the Russell’s Reserve portfolio. Last month, Jack Daniel’s added to its Coy Hill line of whiskies, which similarly spotlights specific barrelhouse locations. And in 2023, Jim Beam released several whiskeys under its Hardin’s Creek collection, each representing a different campus location where it was matured.