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Jack Daniel’s 12 Year vs New Riff Single Barrel
Comparing Jack Daniel’s 12 Year and New Riff Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s 12 Year | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +7 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 107 proof (53.5% ABV) +2 proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$80 – $120 | ~$55 – $70 ~$38 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s 12 Year New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/4 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
spice 5/9 spice: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 8 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s 12 Year 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Jack Daniel’s 12 Year: Twelve-year Jack Daniel's at 107 proof. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, pipe tobacco and seasoned oak.
- New Riff Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jack Daniel’s 12 Year if you want a sweet, creamy, well-aged Jack Daniel's with pipe tobacco and oak.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s 12 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).