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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Put Russell’s Reserve 10 Year next to Elijah Craig Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$28 – $35 ~$14 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).