2021 Holiday Shopping List, the Bourbons: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel

Every shopping list needs a fail safe. I’m not talking about settling, or a silver medalist, or a contingency gift. I’m talking about a “no matter what else, I can find this thing at the price the manufacturer says it should be, I can find it near me, and the recipient is going to love it.” And on this list, that take-it-to-the-bank, rock solid safety net is Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel.

Let’s say you somehow stumbled upon this little Instagram account and you’re a non-degenerate unlike the rest of us on here. You’re the kind of person who thinks spending $120 on a bottle of…anything really, sounds kinda intense. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Single Malt vs. Single Barrel. You think that Lincoln County Process was a band you saw open for Sturgill Simpson that one time. You want to buy a good bottle of…something, for your boss or spouse or friend or whatever. But it’s all just too much to grasp fully.

Friend, I am here to help. Just memorize four words: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel.

Walk into pretty much any medium-sized or larger liquor store in America, and it will be there for $60 American dollars. You’ll be in and out in 3 minutes flat. And you’ll have maybe bought one of the best bottles in the store.

To go all @shemp_malone on you, if you already know, then you know. If you don’t know, then people seem to know. If you have it, you could always use more of it. If you don’t have it, then you need it.

TL;DR — this is one of the best bourbons ever wrought by human hands. It is notorious for being used as a ringer in BTAC tastings…and then winning them. It is an explosion of oak, barrel char, and dark fruit. It is Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel, and it is your bulletproof gift for that bourbon lover in your life.

Image courtesy of Jon who also writes on Low Class & High Proof.

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