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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 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 | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$55 – $70 ~$83 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
- 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 (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).