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New Riff 8 Year vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
On paper New Riff 8 Year and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (100 vs. 90) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% 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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 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 Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).