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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$24 – $30 vs. ~$38 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$15 less | ~$38 – $45 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/4 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 8/9 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 6/6 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The house grain character is what splits these.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- New Riff Bottled-in-Bond: At 30% rye this is about as spice-forward as bourbon gets before becoming rye whiskey. Peppery and herbal with mint and dill, non-chill-filtered for texture, and noticeably dry rather than sweet.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).