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New Riff Single Barrel vs Johnny Drum Private Stock
New Riff Single Barrel and Johnny Drum Private Stock sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Johnny Drum Private Stock |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +4 proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $45 ~$23 less |
- Johnny Drum Private Stock 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.
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Johnny Drum Private Stock
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 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.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.
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 Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock).