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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch 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 | Elijah Craig Small Batch | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$10 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- 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 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 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 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 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 Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).