Compare
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +19 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$55 – $70 ~$48 less |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 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 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 Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).