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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Maker’s Mark 46 and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
- 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, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).