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New Riff 8 Year vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
New Riff 8 Year and Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus a blender-built, wheat-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years +3 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$49 – $55 ~$16 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 an older age statement and without hunting for it.
- Go with Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).