Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Put W.L. Weller Special Reserve next to Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 13 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +34 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$205 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/8 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
spice 2/6 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
oak 4/8 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak without hunting for it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).