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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 13 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 ~$210 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
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
- 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 Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).