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New Riff 8 Year vs David Nicholson Reserve
Put New Riff 8 Year next to David Nicholson Reserve and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | David Nicholson Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$30 – $40 ~$33 less |
- David Nicholson Reserve 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.
David Nicholson Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year David Nicholson Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, David Nicholson Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- David Nicholson Reserve: The rye-recipe sibling to the 1843, with extra age. Toasty oak and rye spice give it more backbone, and the spice stays put through a long, warm finish.
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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with David Nicholson Reserve if you want a toasty, spicy, 100-proof value bourbon that stands up in cocktails.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); old-fashioned, cocktails, rocks (David Nicholson Reserve).