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Old Forester Statesman vs New Riff 8 Year
Old Forester Statesman and New Riff 8 Year are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$50 – $55 vs. ~$65 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | 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 | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 ~$15 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight 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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).