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Russell’s Reserve 10 Year vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 10 Year and Maker's Mark reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 10 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$25 – $32 ~$17 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.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).