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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by age (4 years vs. 10 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | 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 | 4 years | 10 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it with more proof behind it.
- 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, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).