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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs New Riff Single Barrel
Barrell Foundation Bourbon and New Riff Single Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 105).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 ~$8 less | ~$55 – $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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/9 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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 Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).