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New Riff Single Barrel vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Comparing New Riff Single Barrel and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +11 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 ~$8 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
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 at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).