Compare
New Riff Single Barrel vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Comparing New Riff Single Barrel and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and an uncut, cask-strength bruiser.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years +1 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 ~$8 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
oak 6/4 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
heat 7/9 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
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 slightly lower price point.
- Go with Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).