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New Riff 8 Year vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Comparing New Riff 8 Year and Old Forester 86 Proof is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$20 – $26).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$20 – $26 ~$45 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 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 Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).