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Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$55 – $70 vs. ~$38 – $45).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel | New Riff Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$38 – $45 ~$21 less |
| 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 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 8/9 spice: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
- Go with New Riff Bottled-in-Bond if you want aggressive rye spice and a dry, herbal profile from a modern craft distillery at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).