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Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | 15 years +7 yr |
| Proof | 110.8 proof (55.4% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$130 – $150 ~$185 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/9 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 8/6 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13: Bardstown's annual blend of older sourced bourbons. Rich and dessert-like, with creme brulee, toffee and dark fruit over peppery oak.
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year: The oldest regular Russell's Reserve, at barrel proof. Fifteen years in Camp Nelson rickhouses push it toward old oak, leather and dried fruit over the usual Turkey spice.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13 if you want a rich, dessert-like annual blend of older Kentucky bourbons at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with slightly more proof behind it and with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat (Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #13); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).