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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 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 | Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 13 years | 15 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +17 proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 ~$870 less | ~$240 – $2000 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
heat 8/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year: Fifteen-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line, made at Buffalo Trace. Rich toffee, leather and dried fruit with the oak well blended in.
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 at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year if you want a famously hard-to-find, rich, 15-year wheater with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat (Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year).