Compare
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Four Roses Small Batch
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Four Roses Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 13 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +34 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$32 – $38 ~$215 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 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
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).