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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | 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 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/4 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 5/9 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- 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 Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- 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 lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).