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New Riff Single Barrel vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Put New Riff Single Barrel next to Willett Pot Still Reserve and you have a contemporary, high-rye craft build set against a contemporary, corn-forward craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +11 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $60 ~$10 less |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 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 Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
sweetness 4/7 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).