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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original 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 | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% 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 | ~$45 – $55 ~$275 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
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series 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 significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).