Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The nose tickles with caramel, spice, vanilla, and earthiness, with just a hint of balsamic vinegar. Warming. Coated with spices, ranging from cinnamon to allspice and from coffee to nutmeg. Eventually, patented caramel and vanilla, with a fun hint of cardamom. The long, enjoyable finish is earthy, but there’s an unwanted bitterness at the end that cannot be denied. If not for the bitter end, this would rate much higher.