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New Riff Single Barrel vs Four Roses Single Barrel
New Riff Single Barrel and Four Roses Single Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
spice 9/8 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).