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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$205 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
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 9/8 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
heat 7/8 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
- 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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).