Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson C
Mike Rosen

Bourbon

November 23, 2024

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse is an annual limited release featuring whiskey from a different, individual rickhouse at the Wild Turkey Distillery. Released in 2022, Camp Nelson C was the first Single Rickhouse release originating from the now dismantled rickhouse. The wood and tin-covered seven-story Camp Nelson C rickhouse was built in 1946 but not by Wild Turkey. A Rare Bird 101 article says, “While several producers used Camp Nelson’s rickhouses prior to their acquisition by Wild Turkey (Pernod Ricard) in the 1990s, they’re more commonly remembered for aging Canada Dry Bourbon. That’s right – the ginger ale brand (its name and logo remain faintly visible on rickhouses A and B). From my research, Canada Dry Bourbon was bottled under various labels from the 1950s to the 1970s.” I’ve also read that Camp Nelson was used for aging Four Roses bourbon when it was owned by Seagram’s. The Russell’s Reserve website says, “Single Rickhouse from Camp Nelson C, was bottled from a small batch of just 72 barrels, aged on the optimal center cut floors 3 and 4, bottled at 112.4 barrel proof, and non-chill filtered.” A Russell’s Reserve press release says that the Single Rickhouse C barrels were picked by Eddie Russell and aged for over 10 years. Let’s get started.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, rested for about 15 minutes.

Distillery: Wild Turkey Distilling Co.

Proof: 112.4.

Age: NAS. Over 10 years, from Camp Nelson Rickhouse C on floors 3 & 4.

Mash bill: 75% Corn/13% Rye/12% Malted Barley.

Retail Price: $250.00.

Appearance: Golden caramel.

Nose

Crème Brûlée, tons of butterscotch with toffee, brown sugar, vanilla icing, milk chocolate, molasses, cloves, nutmeg, baked apples, apricots, orange citrus, allspice, and toasted oak. This has a fantastic Wild Turkey nose that leans on the sweet side with some great spice. It’s like a gooey butterscotch caramel chocolate bar in a glass.

Palate

The nose moves right to the palate with crème brûlée with lots of butterscotch, toffee, caramelized brown sugar, vanilla bean, nutmeg, cloves, apricots, baked apples, allspice, and toasted oak. A great balance of allspice lights up the palate and lasts through the finish with a creamy, viscous mouthfeel that drinks pretty easy for its proof.

Finish

Allspice lingers with caramel, toffee, apples, apricots, orange peel, nutmeg, chocolate, leather, and pipe tobacco for a long finish.

Conclusion

I remember the negativity around Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson C when it was first released, mainly due to the retail price. The most common criticism I’ve heard is that Single Rickhouse C doesn’t have enough distinction in its flavor profile compared to an excellent Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel pick to warrant the price difference, and I agree. In blind comparisons with my favorite Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel pick (r/bourbon 9-year “Dirty K”), I favored Single Rickhouse C about half of the time. Although the Single Rickhouse C is slightly more complex, the two have a lot in common, and there were distinct differences in their flavor profiles that I preferred over the other at different times. As excellent as The Dirty K is, you’d expect Single Rickhouse C to be much better for the price. Now that I’ve established the poor value proposition for this release, I’d like to bring the subject back to my thoughts on the bourbon inside the bottle.

The more I dug into Single Rickhouse C, the more I loved it. Maybe more than most? I’m not 100% sure about that, but at least more than some, from what I’ve seen. I love the sweet leaning flavor profile, with a wonderful balance of other delicious, typical Turkey flavors that make this an excellent and enjoyable pour. If only Campari offered the Single Rickhouse releases more frequently throughout the year at a lower price and made them available in 375 ml bottles for better availability.

Rating: 8/10.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.

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