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New Riff Single Barrel vs Wild Turkey 81
Comparing New Riff Single Barrel and Wild Turkey 81 reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +24 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$20 – $25 ~$40 less |
- Wild Turkey 81 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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/4 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 7/2 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).