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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs New Riff 8 Year
On paper Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and New Riff 8 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$18 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
- 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 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).