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Penelope Toasted Series vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Penelope Toasted Series and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$188 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 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish at a significantly lower price point and 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).