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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Comparing Four Roses Single Barrel and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$200 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 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
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).