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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Four Roses Bourbon
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Four Roses Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +30 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/3 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 7/2 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 8/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
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 significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).