Compare
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 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 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$38 – $45 ~$44 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 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 9/6 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
spice 7/9 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 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 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 Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).