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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Penelope Toasted Series
Put Russell’s Reserve 15 Year next to Penelope Toasted Series and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a sourced, high-rye blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% 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 | ~$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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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.
- Go with Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).