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New Riff 8 Year vs Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
On paper New Riff 8 Year and Russell’s Reserve 10 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$65 – $70 vs. ~$40 – $50) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Russell’s Reserve 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 8 years | 10 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$40 – $50 ~$23 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.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year 3 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year: Ten years of Wild Turkey at a restrained 90 proof, which trades the 101's punch for polish. More oak and more composure, and one of the better age-stated bottles at its price.
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 Russell’s Reserve 10 Year if you want an age-stated, oak-forward Wild Turkey with the volume turned down at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks (Russell’s Reserve 10 Year).