Compare
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 7 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$35 – $45 |
- 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.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 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.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year).