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Russell’s Reserve 15 Year vs Yellowstone Select
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Yellowstone Select sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year | Yellowstone Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 15 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +24 proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$250 – $400 | ~$40 – $50 ~$280 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year and Yellowstone Select do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Yellowstone Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Yellowstone Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 3 out of 10
spice 6/4 spice: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Yellowstone Select: A revived historic brand from Limestone Branch. Light and creamy, with toasted oak, vanilla and peach and a short, peppery finish. Part of the proceeds support Yellowstone National Park.
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 Yellowstone Select if you want a light, creamy everyday sipper with a historic name at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year); rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Yellowstone Select).