Eagle Rare vs Russell’s 10: Is the Allocated Bourbon Hype Real or Just Turkey Talk?

Jul 7

Welcome back to Tortured Bourbon!

In this week’s Monday Unscripted, we decided to pour two of the biggest names in affordable Kentucky bourbon and see how they stack up: Eagle Rare 10 Year from Buffalo Trace vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year from Wild Turkey.

No script, no fancy prep — just two friends behind the barrel tasting, comparing, and probably arguing about which bourbon you should actually keep stocked on your shelf.

🥃 A Tale of Two Kentucky Classics

Eagle Rare 10 Year

Distillery: Buffalo Trace
Mash bill: Low rye (same family as Buffalo Trace, EH Taylor, and Stagg)
Proof: 90
Flavor profile: Known for its caramel, toasted oak, light leather, and that signature Buffalo Trace sweetness.
Street cred: Often a “hype bottle” — people chase it, hoard it, and pay over retail just to snag it.

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year

Distillery: Wild Turkey
Mash bill: High rye bourbon (about 13%)
Proof: 90
Flavor profile: More vanilla, toffee, classic spice and oak. The Russell family — Jimmy and Eddie — stand behind every barrel, and it shows.
Street cred: Generally easier to find, stays closer to MSRP, and has a cult following all its own.

🥃 Our Unscripted Bourbon Review

We went into this totally unscripted, which means you get all the raw takes, half-baked jokes, and honest reactions.

Heather couldn’t resist poking fun at B’s borderline obsession with Wild Turkey.
B spent way too long explaining why Russell’s 10 is “the most criminally underrated daily sipper on the planet.”
And we both tried to figure out if Eagle Rare really deserves the hype or if we’d rather spend our money on a bottle that’s easier to find (and probably cheaper).

🥃 So Who Wins?

Honestly — you’ll have to watch the episode to find out!

But what we can tell you is this:

If you like smoother, slightly sweeter pours with rich caramel and light oak — Eagle Rare might be your pick.
If you want more spicy kick, bolder vanilla, and that unmistakable Wild Turkey backbone — Russell’s Reserve 10 could steal the crown.

Either way, both are fantastic Kentucky bourbons that punch way above their price point. If you see them on the shelf at MSRP — buy ‘em.

🔥 Watch the Full Episode

👉 Watch the full episode on YouTube here!

It’s our totally unscripted, slightly chaotic, very honest head-to-head of Eagle Rare vs Russell’s Reserve 10.

And while you’re there — hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE so you never miss the next pour decision.

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We post new episodes every week (plus bonus rants, blind tastings, and plenty of questionable life choices).

✍️ Quick Bourbon Tip

Always taste your bourbon neat first — it tells you more about the spirit than any marketing blurb ever could. Then try it with a drop of water or an ice cube. Bourbon evolves in the glass, so give it time to open up.