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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester 100 Proof
On paper New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester 100 Proof are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$38 – $45 vs. ~$26 – $32) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$26 – $32 ~$13 less |
- 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).