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Four Roses Bourbon vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Four Roses Bourbon and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 2/7 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
spice 5/8 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).