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New Riff Single Barrel vs Four Roses Small Batch Select
On paper New Riff Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch Select are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so age (5 years vs. 6 years) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Four Roses Small Batch Select |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 6 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $65 |
- 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 Small Batch Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Four Roses Small Batch Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 8 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 7 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch Select 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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 Small Batch Select: Six recipes, non-chill-filtered, at 104 proof, and the most complete thing Four Roses makes at a normal price. The house fruit character with enough proof and texture to carry it.
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 Four Roses Small Batch Select if you want the fullest expression of the Four Roses fruit-forward style without chasing an allocated bottle.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Four Roses Small Batch Select).