Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Put New Riff Single Barrel next to Jefferson's Reserve Very Old and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a sourced, corn-forward blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Jefferson's Reserve Very Old |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof | 90.2 proof (45.1% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $65 |
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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.
Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Jefferson's Reserve Very Old
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 5 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 4 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Jefferson's Reserve Very Old 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.
- Jefferson's Reserve Very Old: The older, drier sibling of Jefferson's Very Small Batch. Buttery toffee and dried fruit sit on a firm, slightly smoky oak backbone, and the finish turns peppery and long.
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 Jefferson's Reserve Very Old if you want a mature, oak-driven blend with dried fruit and a dry, peppery finish at an easy proof.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Jefferson's Reserve Very Old).