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Kentucky Owl Batch 12 vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Kentucky Owl Batch 12 next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +16 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$300 – $400 | ~$65 – $70 ~$283 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Kentucky Owl Batch 12 New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/5 heat: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
- 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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).