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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a modern, even-keeled craft expression and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$10 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a slightly lower price point.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).