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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Four Roses Single Barrel reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$45 – $55 ~$275 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/6 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 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 Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).