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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs New Riff Single Barrel
Comparing Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and New Riff Single Barrel reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +7 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +19 proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$23 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 7/9 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 9/7 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 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 Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).