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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
On paper Blanton’s Single Barrel and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$55 – $70) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$55 – $70 ~$53 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/7 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).