In 2021 Wild Turkey released Russell’s Reserve 13 Year, and it caught the attention of bourbon drinkers everywhere. Fast forward to 2024, and the company has continued to produce additional 13 year old releases along with a 15 year old version. Following Russell’s Reserve 1998 and the 13 Year Bourbon releases, and in the vein of gold tube releases in the early 90s, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Bourbon finds itself in esteemed graces with other notable releases from the company.

It turned out that the Russells took what they learned from Russell’s Reserve 1998, another 15 year bourbon, and cranked things up to 11. By dialing up the proof, the company released one of the most spectacular bourbons of not just 2024 but also in recent years. It’s a testament to the distilling powers of the Russells and the generational knowledge that Wild Turkey is able to tap into for their products.

What makes Russell’s 15 Year so special isn’t the fact that it employs any finishing or uses rare grain in the mashbill, it’s the fact that it’s just a well-rounded, extremely flavorful straight bourbon. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Bourbon brilliantly showcases everything the brand has been known for over the years, yet is far from a carbon copy of past releases.

The classic Wild Turkey cherry note is once again present - as it rightfully should be - but what else it adds to the flavor profile and what the bourbon ultimately has to say, takes this Wild Turkey release into landmark territory. You don't need time to “get it” and what it has to say is instantly communicated. That’s not to say this bourbon is simple, but one with a clear-cut mission that directly communicates its flavor profile. Its aged oak is well integrated, never overpowering, and makes a strong case for the “older bourbon is better” argument. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Bourbon is a milestone release from Wild Turkey that every bourbon fan should seek out.

In a current whiskey marketplace where extreme proof, rare finishing barrels, and exotic grain types clamor for attention, it’s easy to forget that a back-to-the-basics approach to bourbon sometimes deserves the spotlight. However, when done right, a bourbon can reach levels that few have had the opportunity to to experience before. If there was a bourbon Mount Rushmore, this bottle deserves a spot on it. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year bourbon stood out to us as the absolute #1 whiskey released in 2024 thanks to its full-flavored flavor profile that touches the absolute pinnacle of today’s world of bourbon.