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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Comparing Eagle Rare 12 Year and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).