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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$200 – $300 vs. ~$75 – $200).

Key Specifications

Feature Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
Type / Style Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof
Mash Bill 1 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Age 13 years No age statement
Proof 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) 130.3 proof (65.2% ABV) +7 proof
Approx. Price 2 ~$200 – $300 ~$75 – $200 ~$113 less
Availability Limited easier to find Allocated
  1. Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.
  2. US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.

AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof

A top 5 bottle.

Flavor Profile

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof
sweetnessspiceoakfruitheatnuttiness

Axis by axis, biggest gap first

nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 5 out of 10
heat 8/9 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 8 out of 10

Flavor Profile Differences

The house grain character is what splits these.

  • 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.
  • Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof: E.H. Taylor straight from the barrel. Very hot and nutty, with toasted pecan, dark sugar and heavy oak; the proof changes with each batch.

Which One Should You Choose?

  • Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak without hunting for it.
  • Go with Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof if you want a hot, nutty, barrel-proof Buffalo Trace bourbon at a significantly lower price point.

Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat (Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof).

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