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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Old Forester 86 Proof and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +31 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $26 ~$302 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 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 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- 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 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).