Compare
Elijah Craig Small Batch vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$36 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- 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 Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with slightly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).