Compare
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put Jack Daniel’s 12 Year next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$55 – $70 ~$38 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
- 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 Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).