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Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$49 – $55 ~$11 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 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
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
- 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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).