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Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve vs New Riff Single Barrel
On paper Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve and New Riff Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (120 vs. 105) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +4 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 120 proof (60% ABV) +15 proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 7/3 nuttiness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
spice 7/9 spice: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
oak 8/6 oak: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
- 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 Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost with an older age statement.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).