Compare
Four Roses Small Batch vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Four Roses Small Batch and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Small Batch | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +27 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$32 – $38 ~$290 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
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Small Batch Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
- 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 Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).