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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$44 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
heat 6/9 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).