Compare
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond vs New Riff Single Barrel
Put Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond next to New Riff Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 9 years +4 yr | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$110 – $180 | ~$55 – $70 ~$83 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/9 spice: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
sweetness 8/4 sweetness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).