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Woodford Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Woodford Reserve and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$35 – $42 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 ~$7 less | ~$40 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/8 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).