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New Riff 8 Year vs 1792 Small Batch
New Riff 8 Year and 1792 Small Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$26 – $34).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | 1792 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$26 – $34 ~$38 less |
- 1792 Small Batch 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
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
1792 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year 1792 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/7 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- 1792 Small Batch: Barton's flagship and one of the most under-discussed bottles at its price. A high-rye character with cocoa and orange peel, and considerably more going on than the shelf position suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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 and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch).