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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs New Riff 8 Year
On paper Blanton’s Single Barrel and New Riff 8 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$65 – $70) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$65 – $70 ~$48 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- 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 Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a significantly lower price point and with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).