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New Riff 8 Year vs Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
New Riff 8 Year and Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 ~$10 less | ~$70 – $85 |
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 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.
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 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.
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea: Bourbon that spends months rocking in a ship's hold. Each voyage tastes a little different, but expect caramel and dark sugar with a savory, faintly salty edge from the trip.
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 at a slightly lower price point and with more proof behind it.
- Go with Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea if you want a conversation-piece bourbon with a savory, slightly briny twist from aging at sea.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks (Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea).