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New Riff Single Barrel vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing New Riff Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (105 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$32 – $38 ~$28 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).