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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 13 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +30 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$38 – $45 ~$209 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).