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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Russell’s Reserve 15 Year next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years +7 yr | 8 years |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +17 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$65 – $70 ~$258 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.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
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 an older age statement.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).