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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +32 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 ~$140 less | ~$200 – $300 |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).