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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Put Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel next to Jack Daniel’s 12 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +3 proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 ~$38 less | ~$80 – $120 |
- 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.
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10
oak 8/8 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 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.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year).