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Old Forester Statesman vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put Old Forester Statesman next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | 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 | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 ~$10 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).