Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon Is Back With a Higher Proof
Russell’s Reserve, a whiskey brand produced at Kentucky’s Wild Turkey Distillery, is known for its affordable, high-quality range of bourbons and rye whiskeys. The core bourbon expression carries a 10-year-old age statement and can usually be found for around $50 per bottle, an indisputable bargain in a world of whiskey inflation. In 2021, the brand launched a 13-year-old version, and though it was just a few years older it immediately skyrocketed in price on the secondary market. Well, that bourbon is back, but this time it’s bottled at a much higher barrel proof than previous releases.
According to the brand, previous releases of Russell’s Reserve 13 were “batched” at a barrel proof of 114.8—in other words, that is the barrel proof of a bunch of barrels that were blended together. This year’s release is nearly ten proof points higher, clocking in at 123.8 proof—the highest to date—which puts it more in the range of Booker’s or Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. The whiskey’s higher ABV is based on the location of the barrels that master distiller Eddie Russell and his team selected for this new release. Certain parts of each rickhouse are hotter or dryer than others, which leads to higher rates of evaporation yielding barrels with more alcohol and less water inside—especially after 13 years.
“This release of Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old is special to me not only because it celebrates our legacy, but because it represents a new chapter in the evolution of this bourbon,” said Russell in a statement. “This one carries the signature profile the 13 is known for, but with enhanced cola notes that bring a new depth of flavor. I’m excited to share this new iteration with our fans because I think they’re going to love drinking it as much as I enjoyed making it.” We were not able to sample this new bourbon yet, but the official tasting notes detail aromas of vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, baking spice, and “the distillery’s signature dusty funk” on the nose. That’s followed by cola, molasses, dark fruit, fruit cobbler, and butter cream on the palate, with mature oak, char, deep oak spice, and a hint of black pepper on the finish.
This release comes after last year’s Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old, an amazing bourbon that the distillery said is a one-off (it topped our 50 Greatest Bourbons list). Russell’s 13, however, is an ongoing release, but no word if the proof will stay at this level or if it might change again in the future. Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old will be available starting later this summer (SRP $200, hopefully you can find it for close to that) at select retailers and at the Wild Turkey visitor’s center. You can also find previous editions of the bourbon available now at websites like ReserveBar.
