Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
New Riff Single Barrel and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (105 vs. 115).
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
spice 9/7 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
heat 7/7 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).