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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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 | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | 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 | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$65 – $70 ~$43 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor.
- 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 with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).