Compare
Old Forester 100 Proof vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Old Forester 100 Proof and New Riff 8 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$26 – $32 vs. ~$65 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$39 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
- New Riff 8 Year: The older, deeper version of New Riff's bonded bourbon. Same 30% rye recipe, but eight years add richer oak and darker sugar while keeping the spice front and center.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).