Russell's 10Yr LL/ME. The 90 Proof Russell's Reserve 15yr Bourbon? Is this the best sleeper Bourbon?

I have LLME 19. Def darker and fuller flavor than standard.

Does this apply to all LL/ME including 17,19 and LL/ME 20?

So the LL/ME20 just so happens to be my birthday so now I own two bottles of it 😂😂😂

Bought 6 (full case) just as they put'em on the shelf .. ahhhhhhhhh yes .. I tried it and was pleasantly surprised with my results.

DelCo force is strong is strong with this one 😎😎🔥🔥

Its honestly a smart move from them bc i tryed a bakers 7 hated it i wont try a bakers 13 !! But tryed this ll/me 20 love it and want to buy the 15

Can confirm this is excelente amigos.

Found three LL/ME 19s at the local grocery store and it did not disappoint

I agree. I have 2 ll/me 17's as that is what I was able to find (couldn't find ll/me20 but heard its practically undifferentiated) and its definitely different. I have a few RR10's for guest consumption and personally, I really dont care for 90 proof shelf whiskey and my generic RR10 doesn't even interest me compared. It is odd though, because I think we know a lot of those 15 yr turkey barrels were sold off to NDPs like Elkwood reserve who are doing single barrels at $200-$225 in select states. There may have been integrity issues with some older barrels that for legal or otherwise reasons couldn't be added to RR15 or otherwise sold so they did what they could. All speculation.

So I was able to find an LL/ME17 out here in California. Purchased one and popped when I got home. It definitely had a little extra Turkey funk.

Thanks for the heads up on this "Value" from WT. It's about time they didn't screw over their customers.

I got an LL/ME today…first I’m hearing of this then “20” after. Have I been duped?
LL/ME170605
2024/05/17
Is my bottle’s full laser code.

Got a bunch of LL/ME17 here in and around Buffalo. Got a bottle from one store and had to find a backup at another. Road trip time for my neighbors in PA!

I thought the new 70th anniversary wild turkey 101 was good too and good value. The normal wt 101 tastes like an old rubber tire to me but the 70th is really tasty.

Just to spread more rumors, i heard that LL/ME 17 and 20 have older barrels in the batch than other batches, but aren't from the Reserve 15 barrels after all. Sounds like the idea that Russell's 10 containing any of the juice meant for Reserve 15 bottles, has been debunked. But, not before at least 3 local stores near me raised their reserve 10 prices in the last couple weeks. I'm surprised stores are even legally allowed to gouge on liquor whenever they feel like it.

So, Russell 15 was bottled on 2024-04-09 according to the bottle I saw. Batch LL/MD for Russell 10 was bottled on 2024-04-24. So if the left over theory is correct, Batch LL/MD is the closest one. I have a bottle of LL/MD, I have not tasted LL/ME, but LL/MD is very good and not the regular 10.

Obviously, this is all pure speculation, but something is different about this one and perhaps the LL/ME - given people talking about it.

Have any of you tried LL/MD?

So if you have a bottle of each why not proof down the 15 to the same proof as the RR10 and then do the comparison? 🤷‍♂️

So does this taste higher than 90 proof with more concentrated flavor than a regular Russell's 10 then? I typically won't even buy anything that low proof because it usually just tastes too watered down for my palate.

Enjoyed the video, though I'm scratching my head at some of the criticisms of the brand. We'll have to sit down over a bourbon one day, Bill.

The only Russell's 10 I've had was a few years back and it was pretty bad. Grade "D" and bottom 10% of my collection. But have looked for this microbatch to give it a second chance and have only seen LL/MD.

I was going to hit the like button, but I saw the likes were at 101 and thought for a video about Turkey that was an appropriate number.

I’ve been ignoring most of the videos about this, but had to watch yours. Sounds good, but I’m currently boycotting Wild Turkey after the Masters Keep debacle. Great video though.

Great video sounds like a great value I'll have to look for one

Found a few and they are way better. Sadly Rare Bird 101 recently said it isnt RR15 reject juice but it is older then 10 for sure and it is good for 42.99.

two of the three bottles at total wine had LL/MA. RIP.

I just tried me17 and me20 and could not tell a difference both phenomenal. Bourbon Bill I’ll send ya a sample of the 17 if you would like to try side by side

I have the LL/ME17...Same one Jason C reviewed..So it has to be the best...🤣🤣👍

This vid had to be done, nice to hear your view on it!

BB, your 1st instincts were correct! There is NO (zero, none) 15yr in RR10 or anything close to that. That would be reckless, capitalism malpractice, a business sin, etc. Hah

Don't know how long ago you made this vid. Rarebird since claimed he wasn't able to confirm what IS in there, but was able to confirm with WT what is NOT in there, & that is any 15yr juice.

It's likely just more upper floor barrels were used than usual for RR10.
Since this is cut down to 90P, they can literally use any 10yr barrel. 1st floor juice below 100P & top floor juice above 120P. So the flavor spectrum is as wide as can be for these batches.

The good folks at YT channel "SLB Drinks" checked with their contacts at Wild Turkey/Russell's and were told that although the LL/ME is not the same stock as the RR15, it does include whiskey older than 10 years. The only thing that they could confirm is that, if you find any RR10 with LL/ME, it is a MUST buy for sure!

The codes are just the bottling dates, not necessarily different batches, but they could be.
ME20 was bottled Mon 5/20/24, so ME17 was bottled 3 days before that, on Fri 5/17/24. So, given the size of RR10 (not rare), it's very likey the same batch bottled on different days.
Also, the 2 days in between were the weekend, so it could be the next bottling date, unless they work weekends at WT.

Found 3 bottles here in CT. What swayed me was Cameron of Drums & Drams mentioning that this is was the shelfers of the 80's were like. This is the type of quality and aged whiskey that was commonly found in all those now "dusty" releases.
Thanks for your take on the RR10 LL/MEs Bill!

I'm thinking Campari made the call to make WT up their prices this year. This then lead Jimmy to say F y'all and I'm going to put some 15 year into the 10 year as a Thanks to the WT fans. Campari will still make $$$ though because RR 10s will be flying off the shelves from the Bourbon community.

Looked the last couple days and never found one I’ve only seen LL/MB

Piggy backing lot of other comments, being devils advocate, I would say the majority or bulk of WT products are affordable! Lol 101 B/R, RR10, rare breed B/R, single barrels RR that truly amazing for under 100. It’s only the premium products but compare that to other domestic and international distilleries (Irish/Scotch) not too bad but not great either for value. Also, unfortunately I don’t think it’s marketed for an average working person but that’s the spirits industry as a whole. Anyways, love your videos and your raw honesty/humor.

Bourbon Bill, we need you to be a man of the PA people and grab one of the countless LL/MF bottles in PA to see if it is comparable to the LL/ME. At least in western PA the MF batches are everywhere.

IMHO, I think you're being a little hard on WT, considering they did a limited release for about $60 msrp. The Jimmy Russell 70th which is a GREAT bottle.

Great review BB!
While I agree that WT has been abusing their customers with over pricing the "Special" releases, this bottle and the 8 year 70th Anniversary bottle came in at a very reasonable price. Perhaps WT has turned a corner??

Picked up a couple locally, it's a good pour at a nice price. Some friends proofed down RR15 and they were similar, so there is something to it. Good video!

LL/ME20 is better than LL/ME17. Its darker... thats why you got that one.

I have 1 bottle of unopened RR10 LL/ME20. Will compare it to RR15. 🥃

$220 for the bottle of the year is not overpriced. They are appropriately pricing the LE’s. It’s better than lying and saying you will find it at a $65 MSRP that does not exist like everybody else.

My buddy (who is likely reading this comment right now... Hi Chuck) scored some last night and I have one coming my way. Interested to put it against my old regular RR10 and RR15 (which Chuck also found!).

The intro mini-rant already has me invested in this video.

You look like a Peter, not a Bill.

I searched my area about 10 days ago (ahead of the curve for once) and couldn't find a ll/me bottle. As I'm pulling bottles out the store workers were like you looking for a rr13 or 15 we ain't got it. I'm like no I'm looking for a rr10 with a specific laser code. They looked at me like I'm crazy.

I have LL/ME19, LL/ME17 and LL/ME20. Only tried the 19 so far, and it’s got the back bones of the regular Russell’s 10 but amped up and the nose is insane. I think I might prefers this over my batch 4 Russell’s 13. It doesn’t touch Russell’s 15 though. For the value, this LL/ME is ridiculous!

Rarebird 101 commented that he compared LL/ME20 and LL/ME17 and he said he couldn’t tell the difference. So both are buys all day long

“The greatest value that they forgot to squeeze money out of your pockets for” 😂

It hit NJ in a few spots. But most of the batches are Feb/August batches

I have LL/MF and it’s fantastic. Would love to try this one and see where it ranks.