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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and New Riff 8 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (115 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | 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 | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass at a slightly 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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).