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E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch | 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 | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $90 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
- 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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).