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New Riff 8 Year vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
New Riff 8 Year and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff 8 Year | Woodford Reserve Double Oaked |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$65 – $70 | ~$50 – $62 ~$12 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.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff 8 Year Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 8 out of 10
oak 7/9 oak: New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 9 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked 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.
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: A second barrel, deeply toasted, and the result is unashamedly dessert-like. Maple and caramelised sugar with heavy wood — polarising if you want restraint, excellent if you want sweetness.
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 slightly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Woodford Reserve Double Oaked if you want an overtly sweet, heavily oaked, dessert-leaning bourbon at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year); neat, rocks (Woodford Reserve Double Oaked).