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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Jim Beam Black
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Jim Beam Black sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 7 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$22 – $28 ~$17 less |
- Jim Beam Black 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.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 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.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
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 Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).