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Jefferson’s Very Small Batch vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Jefferson’s Very Small Batch next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a sourced, corn-forward blend set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson’s Very Small Batch | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 82.3 proof (41.1% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +18 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $36 ~$36 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson’s Very Small Batch New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 2 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Jefferson’s Very Small Batch: A blend of sourced barrels bottled at a very gentle 82.3 proof. Easy and inoffensive, but thin enough that it is hard to recommend over bonded bottles costing less.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jefferson’s Very Small Batch if you want an especially soft, low-proof pour and gentleness matters more than intensity at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed rocks, cocktails, highball (Jefferson’s Very Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).