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Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond | 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 | 4 years | 15 years +11 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$306 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
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: Arguably the best value in all of bourbon: a bonded 100-proof Kentucky whiskey for under twenty dollars. Straightforward vanilla and caramel with just enough oak, and nothing at all to apologise for.
- 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 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, honest, full-proof Kentucky bourbon for the price of a cocktail 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 more proof behind it and with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).