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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Put Russell’s Reserve 15 Year next to Elijah Craig Small Batch and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +23 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$28 – $35 ~$294 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).