Compare
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs New Riff 8 Year
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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 | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | 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 | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$65 – $70 ~$25 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).