Wild Turkey Distillery is renowned for its quest to explore the influence of different aging environments on whiskey. "Terroir" may not bear the same significance in the world of whiskey as it does wine, but when aging spirits, the site can have a significant influence. This notion serves as the backbone for the Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Series, an annual bourbon specially crafted by Wild Turkey.

Now available is the 2025 edition, which holds the distinction of being the highest-proof Russell’s Reserve on record, as well as the most potent batched product Wild Turkey has ever offered.

Historically, all bourbon in the Single Rickhouse Series sources from buildings at the Camp Nelson campus, a site originally used by the E.J. Curley Distillery. This campus is one of three sites used to age Wild Turkey products and is situated roughly 45 minutes from the distillery. Constructed in 1946, Rickhouse E, situated on this campus, is known for its unique geographical positioning along the Kentucky River and the resulting diverse wind and temperature patterns it experiences.

To craft the 2025 Single Rickhouse blend, third-generation master distiller Eddie Russell chose hand-selected barrels from the fifth level of Rickhouse E, thanks to their ideal conditions for slower, more nuanced flavor development.

Russell has stated, “Camp Nelson E offers one of the most intriguing aging environments we possess, vastly diverse from previous locations we’ve used. The barrels on the fifth floor yielded a lovely blend of dark fruit, spices used in baking and rich oak expressions that feel authentic to Russell’s Reserve while also being singular in nature. Celebrating the uniqueness of each rickhouse and its influence on our beloved whiskey is precisely the objective of this series.”

Remarkably, although hotter climates usually yield more potent whiskey, the cooler storage conditions in this instance also resulted in a high-powered spirit. With a barrel proof of 128, Single Rickhouse E not only set a record in Russell’s products but also in all of Wild Turkey’s product range under the company's label.

Single Rickhouse E, like all other Kentucky straight bourbons from Wild Turkey, was distilled from a mash bill comprising 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.

The product lineup in the Single Rickhouse Series includes previous releases such as Camp Nelson B (2024), Camp Nelson F (2023), and Camp Nelson C (2022). The company tends to emphasize and celebrate the aging locations over the age of these releases, even though the bourbon is at least a decade old.

The complete production and maturation process saw every barrel in this Single Rickhouse blend being aged for at least ten years in Camp Nelson E Rickhouse, chosen by Master Distiller Eddie Russell. The bottled non-chill-filtered cask strength stands at a hefty 128 proof, setting a new benchmark for Wild Turkey.

The latest Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson E release is to be priced at $300 and would be obtainable in limited quantities starting from October 2025. This unique bourbon is characterized by the essence of vanilla, caramel, maple, figs, cola, and dried orange peel, with an undercurrent of dried fruits and mint, accompanied by graham cracker and nutmeg undertones. The finish is dominated by sweet oak notes combined with molasses and black pepper.

While the exact production size for this batch remains undisclosed, it is thought to be significantly smaller than the Russell’s Reserve aged-stated series such as Russell’s Reserve 13 and 15. The high-strength bourbon will be sold across the U.S. market in restricted quantities, with availability also at the Wild Turkey Distillery Visitor Center.