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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$40 – $50).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).