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New Riff Single Barrel vs Old Forester 100 Proof
On paper New Riff Single Barrel and Old Forester 100 Proof are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$26 – $32) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$26 – $32 ~$34 less |
- 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).