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Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$200 – $300 vs. ~$65 – $75).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 13 years +9 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$200 – $300 | ~$65 – $75 ~$180 less |
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
heat 8/9 heat: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).