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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and New Riff 8 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (110 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 ~$5 less | ~$65 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/5 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
spice 8/8 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
- 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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture 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 without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).