Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Put New Riff Single Barrel next to Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +15 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 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 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).