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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +2 proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$55 – $70 ~$263 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.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
heat 7/7 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).