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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Ancient Age
Put New Riff Bottled-in-Bond next to Ancient Age and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Ancient Age |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$14 – $18 ~$26 less |
- Ancient Age does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Ancient Age
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
heat 6/2 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Ancient Age 2 out of 10
oak 5/3 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 3 out of 10
sweetness 4/5 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Ancient Age 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Ancient Age 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with more proof behind it.
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); cocktails, highball (Ancient Age).