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Woodford Reserve vs Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Comparing Woodford Reserve and Russell’s Reserve 15 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | Russell’s Reserve 15 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 15 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) +27 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $42 ~$287 less | ~$250 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Russell’s Reserve 15 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
One of my favorites.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Russell’s Reserve 15 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 9 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat (Russell’s Reserve 15 Year).