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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and W.L. Weller 12 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$84 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/2 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).