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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs New Riff 8 Year
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and New Riff 8 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +4 yr | 8 years |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$65 – $70 ~$18 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/5 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
oak 9/7 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
- 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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).