Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
On paper New Riff Single Barrel and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (105 vs. 120) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | 9 years +4 yr |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 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.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 3/7 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 7/8 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- 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.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).