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Ancient Age vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
On paper Ancient Age and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$14 – $18 vs. ~$40 – $50) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$29 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- Ancient Age does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).