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Bulleit Bourbon vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$17 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).