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Four Roses Single Barrel vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Four Roses Single Barrel and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 110).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% 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 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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 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 Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a lower price point.
- 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, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).