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Redemption Bourbon vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Redemption Bourbon and New Riff 8 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$65 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Redemption Bourbon | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 84 proof (42% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$39 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Redemption Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Redemption Bourbon New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Redemption Bourbon 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 7/8 spice: Redemption Bourbon 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Redemption Bourbon: Straightforward sourced MGP at a modest proof, and about as clear a reference sample of the high-rye MGP profile as you can buy. Thin neat, but a reliable and inexpensive cocktail base.
- 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 Redemption Bourbon if you want an inexpensive, unambiguous example of the MGP high-rye style for mixing at a significantly 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 more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Redemption Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).