Wild Turkey Distillery (Campari Group)
Russell's Reserve 10 Year
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey · 10 Years (minimum)
Crafted by the Russell dynasty—father and son, 100+ years of combined experience—this is the shelf bourbon that Eagle Rare fans need to discover.
Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Nose
Vanilla, caramel, aged oak, graham cracker, leather, roasted peanut shells, burnt caramel, eucalyptus, chocolate
Palate
Caramel, vanilla, tobacco, seasoned oak, citrus, cinnamon spice, licorice, candied cherry, oily non-chill filtered texture
Finish
Length: MediumClean and balanced with vanilla, nutmeg, toasted brown sugar, quick with a touch of sweetness
Specs
Price / Value
MSRP: $38
Your Rating
Click to rate
Our Score: 84/100
Pairings
Food
- Smoked brisket
- dark chocolate covered almonds
- aged Parmesan
- walnut bread
- roasted mushrooms
Cocktails
- Old Fashioned
- neat
- Whiskey and Water (lets the non-chill filtered character shine)
Our Verdict
Russell's Reserve 10 Year is the thinking person's shelf bourbon—non-chill filtered, age-stated, and crafted by the most experienced distilling team in Kentucky. The dark, oaky character sets it apart from its Eagle Rare rival.
If Eagle Rare is the $38 bourbon everyone hunts, Russell's Reserve 10 Year is the $38 bourbon the smart ones drink while hunting. Crafted under the watchful eyes of Jimmy and Eddie Russell—the most legendary father-son distilling team in American whiskey—this non-chill filtered bourbon represents over a century of combined expertise in every sip.
The comparison to Eagle Rare is inevitable: both are 10-year, 90-proof bourbons from iconic Kentucky distilleries at the same price point. But where Eagle Rare leans sweeter and fruitier, Russell's Reserve plays in darker territory—oaky, nutty, and richly textured with the distinctive Wild Turkey character that devotees adore.
The nose opens with vanilla and caramel—the universal bourbon handshake—but quickly reveals its personality: aged oak, graham cracker, and leather emerge alongside roasted peanut shells, burnt caramel, eucalyptus, and dark chocolate. It's a more complex nose than you'd expect at this price, with a depth that speaks directly to the decade of barrel maturation.
On the palate, Russell's Reserve delivers quiet confidence. Caramel and vanilla provide the foundation, while tobacco, seasoned oak, and citrus add savory dimension. Cinnamon spice, licorice, and candied cherry create moments of sweetness that keep the darker notes from becoming monolithic. The mouthfeel benefits tremendously from the non-chill filtering, which preserves an oily, coating texture that many pricier bourbons lack.
The finish is clean and balanced with vanilla, nutmeg, and toasted brown sugar that fade with a touch of sweetness. It's a quick but pleasant close—the one area where Eagle Rare arguably has the edge.
Russell's Reserve 10 Year is a bona fide stalwart of quality, affordability, and availability in an era where those three qualities rarely coexist. The Russell family legacy lives in every bottle, and the non-chill filtered character gives it a textural advantage that punch-above-its-weight enthusiasts will appreciate. Find it. Drink it. Repeat.
