The 2026 is Wild Turkey's 13-year Kentucky straight bourbon — the distillery's 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley mash bill, distilled and aged in Lawrenceburg, married from barrels aged at least thirteen years and bottled non-chill filtered. Issued in Spring 2026 as a tribute to Eddie Russell's forty-five years at the distillery, it was batched to a barrel proof of 121.2 — its own figure for the season, printed on the label, as every release has been since the practice began in 2025. The distillery describes the result as rich and full-bodied, the extra years and barrel strength showing as vanilla, oak, brown sugar, coffee and a bright orange-peel note.

Every bottle sold through Midnight Whiskey is sourced as an authentic, sealed product and inspected before it ships. Orders are packed with padded, glass-rated handling and require an adult signature (21+) on delivery; we do not ship to anyone unable to verify legal drinking age. For our full sourcing and handling protocols, see our editorial and authentication standards.

What proof is the 2026 Russell's Reserve 13 Year?

121.2 proof, or 60.6% ABV, bottled at barrel strength and non-chill filtered. That is the 2026's own figure, printed on the label — below the 2025's record 123.8 and above the original 114.8-proof era. Since 2025 each release of the 13 Year carries its own unique proof, so the number on the label is how you place a given bottling.

When was the 2026 Russell's Reserve 13 released?

In Spring 2026, as a tribute release honoring Master Distiller Eddie Russell's 45 years of whiskey-making at Wild Turkey. It is the current release of the 13 Year, following the record-proof 2025 edition, and carries its own barrel proof — 121.2 — and production season on the label.

What does the 2026 Russell's Reserve 13 taste like?

The distillery describes it as rich and full-bodied, with notes of vanilla and oak layered over brown sugar, coffee and a vivid orange peel. At 121.2 proof it has the strength to carry that depth while staying approachable neat. As with any release of the 13 Year, it is a marriage of barrels aged at least thirteen years, bottled non-chill filtered to keep the full body.