Compare
Maker's Mark vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Maker's Mark and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +34 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$222 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/8 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 2/6 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
- 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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
- 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, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).