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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs W.L. Weller Special Reserve
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 | ~$30 – $60 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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 Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/2 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve).