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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +20 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 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.
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 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.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
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 Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon).