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New Riff Single Barrel vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
New Riff Single Barrel and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, rye-forward craft style versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | 12 years +7 yr |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$473 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 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.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/3 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 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.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
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 at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).