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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +23 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$294 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/7 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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 Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).