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New Riff Single Barrel vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Put New Riff Single Barrel next to Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$19 less | ~$78 – $85 |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 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.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
heat 7/7 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).