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Bulleit Bourbon vs New Riff 8 Year
On paper Bulleit Bourbon and New Riff 8 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$65 – $70) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$39 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly 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 more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).