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Redemption Bourbon vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Put Redemption Bourbon next to Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and you have a blender-built, high-rye bottling set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Redemption Bourbon | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 84 proof (42% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +33 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 ~$297 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
Redemption Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Redemption Bourbon Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/9 oak: Redemption Bourbon 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Redemption Bourbon 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Redemption Bourbon: Straightforward sourced MGP at a modest proof, and about as clear a reference sample of the high-rye MGP profile as you can buy. Thin neat, but a reliable and inexpensive cocktail base.
- 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 Redemption Bourbon if you want an inexpensive, unambiguous example of the MGP high-rye style for mixing 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 significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Redemption Bourbon); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).