Russell’s Reserve 10 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Which Wins?

Discover the differences between Russell’s Reserve 10 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed in this in-depth comparison and decide Bourbon is better for You!

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Bourbon

Nose	Cinnamon, cherry, vanilla, oak
Palate	Butterscotch, baking spice, charred oak, citrus
Finish	Maple, brown sugar, charred oak
Alcohol content	90 proof (45% ABV)
How to drink	Neat, rocks
Similar to	Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, Single Barrel

The difference between Russell’s and Wild Turkey lies in the casks are hand-picked by Jimmy and Eddie Russell exclusively from the center of Wild Turkey’s rickhouse, which they assure is the best area for maturing bourbon; not to mention a higher price.

Nose is subtle and mostly sweet, with hints of fine spice and charred oak.

On the palate the mouthfeel is excellent and tastes like Thanksgiving pie in a glass. I get fine spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and vanilla with a buttery feel to it.

Finish is pleasing, rich in maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla and the traditional charred oak note present in every Wild Turkey.

This is a very tasty and sweet whiskey that in many ways reminds me of the Buffalo Trace but with more oak to it due to the extended aging in heavily charred oak casks.

Overall, Russell’s 10 is a solid whiskey, making a satisfying pour, although will never be what you grab to impress a friend. More like an “everyday whiskey” to spend a sleepy afternoon and a good substitute to the Eagle Rare 10 that has become increasingly hard to find.

If you want to know more about this brand read my post: Discover the best Russell’s Reserve!

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Russell’s Reserve 10:

• Aged for 10 years in deep charred oak casks.

• The mash bill is made from 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley.

• Earned the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011.

• Scored 92 points from the Beverage Testing Institute.

• Earned a score of 95 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon

Nose	Vanilla, caramel, oak
Palate	Baking spice, burnt sugar, vanilla, oak, old leather
Finish	Vanilla, old leather, oak char
Alcohol content	116 proof (58% ABV)
How to drink	Rocks, cocktails
Similar to	Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester 1920

The Rare Breed is uncut (no water dilution) and unfiltered whiskey providing a fully-flavored experience.

On the nose, the Rare Breed offers an aroma rich in honey, along cinnamon, charred oak and very little ethanol to it.

On the palate, the Rare Breed delivers a good creamy texture, pleasing warmth up-front, with butterscotch, brown sugar, vanilla and oak.

The finish is medium to long, warming, rich in vanilla, old leather and the signature Wild Turkey charred oak note.

It drinks warm as you might expect from something bottled at 116 proof, yet it does not overwhelm as it is sweet and satisfying.

In fact, it drinks quite nicely as it has a creamy texture and rich sweetness well balanced against oaky and spicy notes.

The Rare Breed Bourbon is one of the best in its class and it tastes better than bottles priced twice as much making it a champ in terms of value for the money and the Best Wild Turkey bottle!

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Wild Turkey Rare Breed:

• Rare Breed is a blend of whiskeys aged between 6 and 8 years and 12 years.

• The mash bill is made from 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% barley.

• Gold at the New York International Spirits Competition 2020.

• Wild Turkey belongs to the Campari Group based in Milan, Italy.

Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whiskey	Price
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Bourbon	$40
Wild Turkey Rare Breed	$55

Russell’s Reserve 10 vs Wild Turkey Rare Breed: Which is better?

The Rare Breed is supremely good

Whiskey	Russell’s 10	Rare Breed
Nose	✅	✅
Body		✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value		✅

• Russell’s 10 is a good, sweet and smooth “everyday whiskey”. It drinks nicely without any controversies making a good pour for those who are in the market for an easy sip.

• The Rare Breed is a more tasty and complex dram, somewhat sweet and spicy with very nice tasting notes in a very high proof.

• It can be warm at first, but all it takes is a large ice ball or a dash of water to become easier to drink.

• Personally, I prefer the Rare Breed as it can be tamed while the Russell’s is good but quite similar to many whiskeys offered for less money.