Russell's Reserve Single Barrel

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber
55% ABV
Dram

Nose: Lychees, caramel, green tea, green apples, raisins, hints of marzipan. With water, green tea, hay, fresh cut grass. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, oily, mouth coating, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Caramel, butterscotch, honey, raisins, hints of lychees. With water, black tea, honey, hay. 
Finish: Short. Butterscotch, caramel, raisins, green tea. 

Comments: 

A muscular, robust bourbon, with a mash bill that contains a lot of barley, if I'm any judge. The sweet fruitiness disappears upon adding water, and the flavours turn herbal, grassy, and fresh. Very nice and warming.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey 101

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Honey, orange peel, white grapes, gooseberries, toffee. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, syrupy, volatile, slightly astringent. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Orange peel, bananas, gooseberries, toffee, raisins, hints of caramel. 
Finish: Medium. Orange peel, cloves, bananas, caramel. 

Comments: 

This is a powerful, robust bourbon, with better tha average complexity. It's been aged at least 6 years, according to the literature, and it shows. Excellent notes of orange peel predominate, almost crowding out the classic bourbon banana flavours.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.

Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey

Wild Turkey Rye Whiskey

Official bottling
Single rye - Wild Turkey
Amber, tinge of green
41% ABV
Dram

Nose: Magic marker, new plastic, cardamom, cinnamon, hints of pears, hints of corn syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, turns hot, tingly, static. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Chillies, magic marker, pears, new plastic, cardamom, hints of ginseng. 
Finish: Long. Chillies, melon, new plastic, hints of roses. 

Comments: 

Oddly plasticky, strange chemical notes mixed in with cardamom and pears. It's a bit sickly sweet as well, especially on the nose. In the mouth, hmm, a bit of a different story. A little bit bitter, still loads of pears and plenty of cardamom, but in the finish the plastic comes rushing back. This is ok, but there are better ryes.

Verdict:

Not bad.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Amber red
54.1% ABV
Dram

Nose: Bananas, brown paper, dates, slate, pears, raisins, hints of fermented grain. With water, cream, vanilla.
Mouthfeel: Light body, slippery, thickens, hot.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Lemons, brown paper, honey, dates, raisins, hints of pears. With water, sweeter, cream, vanilla, hot milk.
Finish: Long. Brown paper, slate, walnut skins.

Comments:

Much easier on the tongue with water, turning creamy and milky. This bourbon has a lot of gentle subtle flavour elements in it, which are more obvious once the stronger esters have been diluted away.

Verdict:

I like this.

Wild Turkey 8 yo

Wild Turkey 8 yo

Official bottling
Single bourbon - Kentucky
Dark gold
50.5% ABV
Dram

Nose: Mint, bananas, oranges, pears, magic marker, brown paper, bread. With water, ink, slate, lots more magic marker.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, astringent, hot, volatile.
Tasting: Bitter sour. Chillies, sourdough, pears, mint, oranges, hints of iodine. With water, sweeter, vanilla, slate, the hint of bitterness vanishes.
Finish: Short. Sourdough, oranges, bananas.

Comments:

Water brings out something harsh and minerally. It's not unpleasant, just more obstrusive and in-your-face. This is pretty good bourbon. Not easy sipping, but should go well with food.

Verdict:

I like this.