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New Riff 8 Year vs Four Roses Single Barrel
On paper New Riff 8 Year and Four Roses Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$45 – $55) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$18 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/7 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).