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Four Roses Single Barrel vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Four Roses Single Barrel and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$38 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Single Barrel | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Single Barrel New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 8/9 spice: Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive 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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range.
- 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 slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).