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New Riff Single Barrel vs Woodford Reserve
On paper New Riff Single Barrel and Woodford Reserve are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (105 vs. 90.4) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | New Riff Single Barrel | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
New Riff Single Barrel Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/6 spice: New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 4/6 sweetness: New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).