Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs New Riff Single Barrel
Put Old Forester 1870 Original Batch next to New Riff Single Barrel and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | 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 | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $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 Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/9 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 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 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 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).