Compare
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Woodford Reserve
Comparing Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Woodford Reserve reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +27 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$35 – $42 ~$287 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/6 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).