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George T. Stagg vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
George T. Stagg and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | George T. Stagg | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 142.8 proof (71.4% ABV) +43 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$150 – $800 | ~$38 – $45 ~$434 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- George T. Stagg does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
George T. Stagg
Very complex, with the taste profile moving across the entire palate.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
George T. Stagg New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: George T. Stagg 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 10/6 heat: George T. Stagg 10 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: George T. Stagg 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/9 spice: George T. Stagg 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: George T. Stagg 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: George T. Stagg 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- George T. Stagg: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's barrel-proof bourbon, around 15 years old. Root beer, dark caramel and charred oak at an enormous proof that changes each year.
- 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 George T. Stagg if you want the oldest, hottest, most concentrated Buffalo Trace bourbon you can find with significantly more proof behind it.
- 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 significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (George T. Stagg); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).