THE BOURBON RESOURCE: JULY 2025
A review of the Russell's Reserve 13 (2025 release), a review of the Knob Creek Private Pick,, a tour of Lexington Brewery and Distilling Company, and more
The Bourbon Resource
By Ray Marcano
THE BOURBON RESOURCE NEWS
A barrel of Blanton’s Gold sold for $55,000 at Legacy de Forge’s new premium spirits site. I’m not sure what taxes and other fees (if any) add to the cost, but those bottles will end up at more than $300 each. That’s far more than the MSRP ($120) AND the secondary price ($175). I guess the buyer likes the stuff a lot.
Little Book’s Chapter Nine, called “None for Granted,” has hit the shelves. Bottled at 121.8 proof, the whiskey blends bourbons and ryes aged 7 to 11 years. Specifically, it contains an 8-year Kentucky straight rye whiskey, an 11-year Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, an 8-year Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, and two different 7-year Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys. MSRP: $160.
Two excellent barrel proof products have hit the market. The Elijah Craig B525, at 126.2 proof, is aged 11 years and 6 months and retails for $74.99. Larceny’s product, also a B525, is bottled at 117.4 proof and retails for $64.99. They’re both very good, with the availability being the prime difference. It’s harder to find the EC, which is why I buy them (almost always slightly above retail) when I find them. I have four bottles of the A125 waiting for me to consume, which is no surprise, since the ECBP is one of my favorites.
This is interesting. I took a screenshot of an alert I received from Legacy de Forge. Looks like some amazing bourbon has come to auction
You can sign up for the auctions now. Of course, the prices will be outrageous. On the secondary, the ER 25 costs at least $25K; the double ERVR, about $6K; and the Weller Millenium, $7K. I would suspect the Buffalo Trace barrel will go for at least twice MSRP, or more than $13,000 (based on 220 bottles). There’s also a bottle of Last Drop Buffalo Trace, a 27-year-old product, which will likely fetch $12.5K or more.
THE BIG BOURBON RESOURCE REVIEW: RUSSELL’S RESERVE 13-YEAR-OLD
Note: Russell’s Reserve provided a sample of the RR13 to the Bourbon Resource with no special consideration. The Bourbon Resource appreciates Russell’s Reserves’ support.
RUSSELL’S RESERVE 13 YEAR OLD
Proof: 123.8
SRP: $200
Short Take: Another impressive release
History
The first Russell’s Reserve 13 was released in 2021, and it was an immediate hit. It took four years for Russell’s to produce its second release.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old
Mash bill:
Not listed on the press release, but the 2021 version was widely reported at 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Caramel, vanilla, toffee,
👉🏻Taste: Molasses, caramel, brown sugar, notes of light fruit
👉🏻Finish: Very long, rich caramel, oak, brown sugar
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old
Summary
Once again, Wild Turkey, which distills the RR13, has come up with a winner. While several businesses would be tempted to rush another release, Wild Turkey waited until it produced another outstanding, and not just good, product. From the first sip, this whiskey announces itself as a contender for Bourbon of the Year. It’s so deep and rich that you can still taste it as you get toward the end of a half-hour TV show. This is a classic sipping bourbon because if you rush, you’ll cheat yourself by missing how the caramel, molasses, toffee, and vanilla come together. First, it’s one flavor, then another, and then another. If you think of bourbon as a symphony, this one would be Mahler’s Symphony No. 9, a work of deep complexity that leaves the audience stunned… just like the RR13.
Conclusion –Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old
As a limited release, this will be hard to find. Russell’s Reserve asks customers to sign up for emailed updates on availability. It’ll be a difficult get, even at the new inflated retail (the first RR13 release started at $69 and went to $100 when RR made more bottles available to the public). Still, if you can find one, get it. This is a gem of a bourbon.
Have you tried the Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old? What do you think?
THE BOURBON RESOURCE REVIEW
KNOB CREEK CASK STRENGTH SINGLE BARREL BOURBON (PRIVATE PICK)
Proof: 123.7
MSRP: $69.99
Knob Creek Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon (Private Pick)
Short take: The best Knob Creek I’ve tasted
History
In February, my private pick group, the 32 Staves Society, went to the Beam Distillery to select a barrel of Knob Creek Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon. Beam announced the program in January, and our group was one of the first 10 in the country to select one.
Mash bill:
75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley
Let’s taste it:
🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn glass
👉🏻Nose: Vanilla, light sweet corn, coffee, leather
👉🏻Taste: Thick caramel, maple, vanilla, peppermint
👉🏻Finish: Medium with caramel, vanilla, pepper, and allspice
Knob Creek Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon (Private Pick)
Summary
This well-balanced bourbon doesn't taste nearly as hot at 123.7. I only get a hint of heat in the chest, but the finish is the real winner. It's medium-long. After a sip, give it a couple of minutes because the delayed flavor reaction is worth the wait. This is an excellent pour that will leave many of us (including me) wishing I ordered more.
Conclusion – Knob Creek Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon (Private Pick)
I’ve always found private picks special. My group has been doing them for 10 years. Since these are all single barrels, they have their own character. This Knob Creek is no different. It’s better than any KC I’ve had. These barrel proofs should start hitting shelves soon, so you may be able to snag one. They’re worth buying at right about $70. If you get a bottle, find a friend(s) who have other KC releases, and do a side-by-side comparison. That would be a terrific way to spend an evening.
THE BOURBON RESOURCE DISTILLERY TOUR
Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company
Lexington, KY.
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale has long been my favorite beer, and I never paid attention to who brewed it. I was delighted when I discovered that a place that makes bourbon also makes my favorite beer.
The Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company sits in a neighborhood. I was confused when I pulled up because I saw cars driving along Maloney Alley and then parking on concrete slabs next to the homes. Interesting.
Visitors on the campus tour, which costs $15, get two tickets each for beer and whiskey. The distillery also offers a cocktail tour that includes two spirit samples and a cocktail for $20. Both tours last about an hour, and afterwards, you can taste more (for an extra fee) at the visitors center.
Most readers of this newsletter have been on distillery tours, so I won’t bother with the details of coppeages and such, but I will point out two things to pay special attention to.'
On the beer side, I was excited to try the Ale, but instead, I went for the Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout. After one sip, I thought, “Where have you been all my life?” It’s a huge beer in every sense of the world. It’s 12% alcohol that will not let you drink it fast. It’s a big, thick drink that caresses the palate with chocolate-coffee-caramel. After three small sips, I knew I couldn’t finish the bottle, but I hoped one of the whiskies on the tasting would be the perfect accompaniment.
That turned out to be the Town Branch Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey. It’s crisp with pepper, oak, vanilla, and a hint of bright fruit. The spiciness and heat (not at all bad) cut through the thickness of the Milk Stout and make for one hell of a pairing. You likely won’t be able to finish the beer, so have a friend over and split it.
The visitor’s center is worth a peek. It’s light on shirts and caps (good) and long on product (very good). The shop has bottles of the Town Branch 15-year Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey, the oldest single malt in the world. I noted in the January Bourbon Resource that the $399.99 price tag might scare off some people. But when you consider the bottle comes with free lifetime tours, buyers can significantly lower the effective price.
Everything else Lexington makes is on display, and yes, I bought back a four-pack of the Milk Stout. I should have purchased a rye. too.
If you’re in the area, Lexington is worth a visit. In addition to the modern facility and variety of products, the friendly staff makes sure you have an enjoyable visit. Check it out if you have time.
That’s it for this month. Thank you to our friends at Bourbon Obsessed, who continue to be a terrific help and resource. They have a tremendous catalog of bourbon and distillery reviews that you can see here:
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly, and he’s president of the 32 Staves Society. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who freelances for some of the country’s largest media brands. He’s the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow.