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New Riff Bottled-in-Bond vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$38 – $45 ~$11 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Willett Pot Still 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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).