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Jefferson's Reserve Very Old vs New Riff 8 Year
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old and New Riff 8 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jefferson's Reserve Very Old | 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 | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $65 ~$8 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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 Reserve Very Old: The older, drier sibling of Jefferson's Very Small Batch. Buttery toffee and dried fruit sit on a firm, slightly smoky oak backbone, and the finish turns peppery and long.
- 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 Reserve Very Old if you want a mature, oak-driven blend with dried fruit and a dry, peppery finish at an easy proof at a slightly 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).