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New Riff Single Barrel vs Michter's US*1 Small Batch
New Riff Single Barrel and Michter's US*1 Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus a sourced, classically built blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Michter's US*1 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +14 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch 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.
Michter's US*1 Small Batch
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Michter's US*1 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Michter's US*1 Small Batch 5 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.
- Michter's US*1 Small Batch: Polished and easy-drinking, with butterscotch and stone fruit and very little rough edge. What you pay for is refinement and mouthfeel rather than age or proof.
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 Michter's US*1 Small Batch if you want a smooth, polished pour with a premium feel and no rough edges at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Michter's US*1 Small Batch).