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Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs New Riff 8 Year
Put Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year next to New Riff 8 Year and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | 8 years +1 yr |
| Proof | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $65 ~$5 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/5 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
- 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 Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).