Age-stated bourbon battles aren’t something we’ve done for a while, so let’s dive back in. Eagle Rare 10 Year Old vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old. Same age, similar price, same ABV, slightly different mash bills. But who comes out on top?
Both are excellent at what they do and have become cornerstones of modern bourbon. The question is simple. In a head-to-head based purely on what’s in the glass, which one wins?
First Impressions: Eagle Rare Starts Off Strong
Eagle Rare opens with a stunning nose. Baked vanilla, stroop waffles, maple syrup, charred oak, brown butter, and sweet mint all come through clearly. It’s a classic profile, with that familiar hint of green apple often found in Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #1 releases.
Russell’s Reserve feels a little quieter by comparison. There is still plenty to enjoy. I’m picking up blackberries, mint, powdered sugar, and soft caramel. A gentle tingle of rye spice sits underneath, interacting nicely with the mint.
Overall, Eagle Rare feels more traditional. Rich, sweet, and very corn-driven. Russell’s is slightly more unusual. Still sweet, but led by those juicy blackberry notes.
Flavour Showdown: Rich vs Fresh
This is where things get serious. Flavour is king, so who comes out on top?
Starting with Russell’s Reserve, it opens with immediate sweetness. Powdered sugar and caramelised wood sugars lead the way, before the slightly higher rye content begins to build. The sweetness fades into a prickly spice from the rye and ABV, and then the fruit returns. More blackberries, alongside fresh mint.
It’s refreshing and drying at the same time. There’s a slight cough sweet quality to it, with that cooling mix of fruit and mint. Towards the end, waves of buttery corn and sweet caramel round things out.
Eagle Rare takes the opposite approach. It starts spicier, then softens into a wave of sweetness and gentle barrel dryness. Stroop waffle notes return, alongside chewy caramel and a crumbly waffle texture. It develops into something more autumnal, with maple, pecan, brown sugar, nutmeg, and brown butter.
This feels richer and more layered, while Russell’s leans fresher and brighter. At this stage, Eagle Rare is just edging ahead.
Finish: Subtle vs Assertive
The Eagle Rare feels warming, long, still softly sweet and fizzy with its barrel influences. It feels as if it’s moving around and trying to find any of my tastebuds that haven’t experienced it yet. The spiciness is mellow and it’s well balanced against the remaining sweetness of caramel, baked apples, nutmeg and a gentle element of milk chocolate moving around there as well.
The Russell’s has become a bigger, more dominant force towards the end. Plenty of those minty notes but the blackberries have faded away. What’s in its place is a fresh, spicy, zingy style of spice that is being backed up by warming, toasted wood spices and more potent mintiness. Classic caramel coming back in as the finish fades away.
The Reality Check: Availability and Accessibility
This is the final hurdle before the verdict.
Russell’s Reserve is generally more readily available in the United States. Eagle Rare, on the other hand, can be difficult to find depending on the state.
In the UK, the situation is almost reversed. Eagle Rare is widely available in most supermarkets, which still feels surprising. Russell’s Reserve tends to be snapped up quickly by enthusiasts.
So there is a balance here, depending on which side of the Atlantic you are on.
Verdict: Eagle Rare vs. Russell’s Reserve
This wasn’t an easy decision.
If both bottles ran out and I had to replace just one, I would go for Eagle Rare. It only just edges the win, but it does so with its balance and cohesion.
Interestingly, I usually prefer Wild Turkey over Buffalo Trace Distillery, but this feels like an exception. There is something about how Eagle Rare delivers sweetness and spice together. It feels more composed and controlled.
Russell’s Reserve is still excellent. However, those refreshing, cooling notes can become a little dominant. At times, I find myself wanting more sweetness to push through the rye-driven vibrancy.
A close contest, but Eagle Rare takes it.
Which one would you choose?
Read the full article at I Tasted Eagle Rare And Russell’s Reserve Back-To-Back: Here’s My Verdict
