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New Riff 8 Year vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Put New Riff 8 Year next to Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | 9 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 ~$78 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/2 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
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 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).