Compare
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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 | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 13 years +4 yr | 9 years |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +4 proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$45 – $55 ~$200 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
fruit 6/3 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
heat 8/8 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).