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Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year reveals a matchup between a sourced, wheated blend and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 15 years +10 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$49 – $55 ~$273 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Limited easier to find | Allocated |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 3/6 fruit: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
- 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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a significantly lower price point and 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 more proof behind it and with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).