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New Riff 8 Year vs Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Comparing New Riff 8 Year and Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$150 – $180).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 ~$98 less | ~$150 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 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.
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/9 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 8 out of 10
spice 8/6 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend: Older sourced bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac and then Armagnac casks. Dense dried fruit, fig and orange over cigar leaf and charred oak.
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 significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend if you want a fruit-packed, multi-cask-finished bourbon built to go with a cigar.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat (Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend).