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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).