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New Riff 8 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put New Riff 8 Year next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | 15 years +7 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 ~$258 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 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
- 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 New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe 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 an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).