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Rowan's Creek vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Rowan's Creek and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Rowan's Creek | 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 | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Rowan's Creek 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
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Rowan's Creek Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the 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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).