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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Put Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel next to Elijah Craig Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 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) +16 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).