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New Riff Single Barrel vs Barrell Foundation Bourbon
New Riff Single Barrel and Barrell Foundation Bourbon are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (105 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Barrell Foundation Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 5 years |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$50 – $60 ~$8 less |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon 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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- New Riff Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top.
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon).