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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Put Eagle Rare 12 Year next to New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 | ~$38 – $45 ~$24 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year 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
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak finish.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak with an older age statement.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).