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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a modern, even-keeled craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 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.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
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 at a lower price point.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).