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Old Forester Statesman vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put Old Forester Statesman next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | 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 | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +22 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 ~$273 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight 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 more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).