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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (115 vs. 110).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +5 proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 7/7 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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 Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).