Cherry | Strawberry shortcake | Vanilla cream | Pie crust | Seasoned oak | Brown sugar | Cinnamon apple | Allspice

Cherry | Raspberry | Aged oak | Black pepper | Nutmeg | Caramel

Dry oak | Rye spice | Cinnamon | Leather | Tobacco | Seasoned oak

With the release of this year’s Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon, Wild Turkey is paying tribute to their master distiller, Eddie Russell, who is celebrating 45 years with the company. This edition is actually the sixth batch of 13 Year and comes in at 121.2 proof, marking the second highest proof for the line. Like batches before it, older barrels handpicked by Russell were added, and the 2026 release features barrels as old as 18 years despite its 13 year age statement, which represents the youngest barrels in the blend. The bottle’s price has remained consistent with last year’s release, but has more than doubled since its release in late 2021 - though everyone can agree, the original batches were severely underpriced.

This year’s edition stays true to Russell’s Reserve flavor profile and delivers a pour that will make you go “wow.” Red fruits dominate and are elegantly offset by aged seasoned oak, brown sugar, nutmeg, and leather. The higher proof brings with it extra intensity in the form of rye spice, black pepper, and oak tannins. The star here, though, is the bourbon’s overall body. Rich, layered, and full-bodied, it takes all of the classic Russell’s flavors and evenly distributes them throughout the sip. There are just enough lively aspects of the sip that come across as bright and fruity, precisely juxtaposed with the rich, seasoned oak and baking spices. The bourbon concludes with a ramp-up of heat, further showcasing the rich flavors Russell brought to this year’s blend.  

Comparing Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon to the exceptional Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old Bourbon, oak definitely plays a more major role in the latter. Much like Jack Daniel’s 14 Year, there are those who prefer the extra oak influence throughout the sip over the younger versions with their fruit-forward flavor profiles. In the end, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon and 15 Year Old Bourbon are exceptional releases from the company, each focusing on something slightly different, but both showcasing how amazing Wild Turkey bourbon is at a high age.