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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Maker’s Mark 46
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Maker’s Mark 46 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% 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 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).