Compare
New Riff 8 Year vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Comparing New Riff 8 Year and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. 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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 without hunting for it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).