We’re jumping around the timeline a bit with this review. The last time I covered the Single Rickhouse line was with the inaugural Camp Nelson C release, a whiskey that I thought was borderline great, but nowhere near worth its asking price. In a way, Single Rickhouse is a spiritual successor to the lauded Russell’s Reserve LTOs delineated by their year of distillation (1998, 2002, etc.). The goal with these releases is to explore how specific locations can impact a whiskey’s character.

If you’re wondering how this can be dramatically different to exploring different rickhouses through the more available and affordable Russell’s Reserve barrel picks, you’re not alone. The best purported explanation is that picks can still showcase variability from barrel to barrel, even when pulled from the same rickhouse, so a batched release meant to encapsulate a composite essence makes sense on paper. This is doubly so for a company when such a release regularly sells out for a high asking price.

The three previous Single Rickhouse bottlings earned varying levels of acclaim, with Camp Nelson F appearing to be the crowd favorite. However, 2025’s Camp Nelson E found its way into multiple Bourbon of the Year discussions, with some claiming it superior to the stellar Master’s Keep Beacon (also a 2025 release). How much do I agree with these sentiments? Only one way to find out.

Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson E was pulled from an undisclosed small batch of barrels from the fifth floor of the 60-year-old rickhouse which, like Camp Nelson F, sits adjacent to the Kentucky River. Once again, there’s no age statement, but based on previous releases, it’s likely 10-15 years old. Single Rickhouse CN-E is also the highest proof Russell’s product to date, clocking in at 64% ABV and forgoing chill filtration.

Nose: Cherry Sour, Lychee, Nutmeg, Clove

Slightly Savory, Tart, Earthy

Palate: Green Apple Candy, Cherry Sour, Mixed Berries, Clove

Scalding, Viscous, Tart

Finish: Black Pepper, Honeydew, Cherry Syrup, Grape Candy

Spicy, Dense, Syrupy

This whiskey’s greatest strength is undoubtedly the rich texture and mouthfeel, especially as it sits. I can only name a handful of pours that achieved this level of viscosity, with some of the 2021 Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill bottles being among those few. If this aspect coincided with the more tried-and-true Wild Turkey profile, then it could’ve been one of the best modern releases to come out of Wild Turkey.

The thing is, we already got that last year with Master’s Keep Beacon. So in a way, Single Rickhouse CN-E having a different profile only makes sense. And based on the reception I’ve seen, that direction paid off with flying colors. So imagine my surprise when I found the overall experience to be a touch lackluster.

I already knew from trying Russell’s picks that CN-E can be quite off-profile for Wild Turkey. My experience is that they run the gamut between lightly nutty wood and sweet-tart fruit notes, but more often the latter. This is reflected in the flavor profile of Single Rickhouse CN-E. In a way, this whiskey hits a bit like a Four Roses pick, which should be music to my ears since that’s my other favorite bourbon distillery. However, it’s not simple and effective comparison; the nose begins surprisingly closed off, only opening up slightly after sipping. Both the palate and finish follow suit, with the aforementioned viscosity—as well as corresponding spice—being what largely holds everything together. I actually found the tasting notes oddly indistinct, which I’m not accustomed to with Wild Turkey products.

Altogether, Single Rickhouse CN-E is a pour I certainly appreciated, but was hardly won over to the extent that I’d call it a list-topping contender. This should also say everything about my thoughts on the price and value proposition, especially since you could potentially get four Russell’s picks and create your own CN-E small batch. But I’m also more in favor of getting picks from different locations in the first place.