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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 | ~$38 – $45 ~$40 less |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 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
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
- 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 Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth.
- 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, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).