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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Maker's Mark
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Maker's Mark sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +34 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$25 – $32 ~$222 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
spice 6/2 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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: 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 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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).