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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Comparing Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Old Grand-Dad Bonded is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$24 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$24 – $30 ~$36 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).