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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Comparing New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 7 years +3 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 6/8 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).