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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs Wild Turkey 101
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and Wild Turkey 101 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$25 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +9 proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$25 – $30 ~$35 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).