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Buffalo Trace vs New Riff Single Barrel
Put Buffalo Trace next to New Riff Single Barrel and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Buffalo Trace | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Buffalo Trace 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
Buffalo Trace
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Buffalo Trace New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Buffalo Trace 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Buffalo Trace 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Buffalo Trace 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Buffalo Trace: The reference-point Kentucky bourbon: balanced brown sugar and vanilla sweetness, a whisper of mint, and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting. Nothing is loud, which is exactly the point at 90 proof.
- 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 Buffalo Trace if you want the balanced, everyday Kentucky benchmark that does nothing wrong at a fair price.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Buffalo Trace); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).