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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester Statesman
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester Statesman is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$38 – $45 vs. ~$50 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +5 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$11 less | ~$50 – $55 |
- 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).