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Old Forester 100 Proof vs New Riff Single Barrel
On paper Old Forester 100 Proof and New Riff Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so price (~$26 – $32 vs. ~$55 – $70) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$34 less | ~$55 – $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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
spice 6/9 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 5/7 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- 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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).