Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put New Riff Single Barrel next to W.L. Weller 12 Year and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| 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 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$63 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- W.L. Weller 12 Year 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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/2 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 4/8 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
heat 7/3 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).