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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | 13 years +4 yr |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$200 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
heat 8/8 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
- 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 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost 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, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).