Rye Whiskey is booming, and legendary Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell are responding with a 104 proof, barrel-aged spice bomb, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye.
In a report released this month, The Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. says Rye Whiskey volumes have grown 536 percent from 88,000 9-liter cases in 2009 to over a half million cases (561,000) in 2014. Jimmy and Eddie, with 95 years of combined Whiskey-making experience, are longtime advocates of Rye; a trademark ingredient that gives Russell’s Reserve and Wild Turkey Bourbon their iconic spiciness.
Looking to create a versatile and robust Rye that shines as well in cocktails as it does on its own, the Russells carefully selected only the best barrels primarily from the “center cut” locations (levels 3–5) of the rick houses for their newest creation. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is not chilled-filtered to capture all the flavor rye provides. Rich caramel in color, this single barrel release offers a balance of spicy pepper, vanilla, and caramel on the nose and palate.
“Jimmy and I have always been passionate about Rye—it’s why our Wild Turkey and Russell’s Reserve expressions all have that spicy kick—and why we’ve also had a staple of Rye Whiskey in our portfolio for decades,” says Eddie Russell, master distiller. “We know bartenders love to experiment with Rye, but what’s equally exciting is seeing the uptick in consumer interest. I’m having just as many conversations in the global marketplace about our Rye offerings as I am about our Bourbon offerings.”
Since the start of his career, Eddie has studied mixology’s influence on the rapidly growing Bourbon industry. After seeing a renewed interest in classic cocktails like Boulevardiers, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and Sazeracs, all of which call for Rye, Eddie anticipated there would be an increased demand for Bourbon’s spicy cousin.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye will be available year-round as a permanent addition to the Russell’s Reserve portfolio joining its predecessors Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon, Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. It will be sold nationwide in 750ml bottles starting September for a suggested retail price of $59.99.
For more information, visit www.campariamerica.com.
