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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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 1920 Prohibition Style | 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 | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +2 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$263 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
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/9 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/7 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve 15 Year if you want a very old, oak-heavy Wild Turkey for slow sipping with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).