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Maker’s Mark 46 vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Maker’s Mark 46 and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark 46 | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% 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 | ~$38 – $45 ~$284 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
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark 46 Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/7 heat: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
- 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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it 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 more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).