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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Barrell Foundation Bourbon and New Riff 8 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by age (5 years vs. 8 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 8 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 ~$13 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon 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
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending at a lower price point.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).