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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Rowan's Creek
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Rowan's Creek sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$18 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Rowan's Creek 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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/4 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).