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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| 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) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$40 – $50 |
- 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 Cask Strength
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Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/3 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
sweetness 4/9 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
heat 6/7 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 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 Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).