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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$38 – $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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).