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New Riff 8 Year vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Put New Riff 8 Year next to Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years +1 yr | 7 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$60 – $65 ~$5 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).