Compare
New Riff 8 Year vs Ezra Brooks 99
Comparing New Riff 8 Year and Ezra Brooks 99 reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Ezra Brooks 99 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 99 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$22 – $28 ~$43 less |
- Ezra Brooks 99 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.
Ezra Brooks 99
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Ezra Brooks 99
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 4 out of 10
fruit 5/2 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 2 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Ezra Brooks 99 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.
- Ezra Brooks 99: A high-proof value bottle from Lux Row. The nose is quiet, but the palate is bolder, with creamy caramel, brown sugar and a nutty, peanut-like edge.
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 Ezra Brooks 99 if you want a high-proof, nutty, caramel-forward everyday bourbon at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Ezra Brooks 99).