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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Four Roses Bourbon
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Four Roses Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +37 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$22 – $28 ~$300 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/3 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 7/2 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
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 significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).