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Stagg vs New Riff Single Barrel
Comparing Stagg and New Riff Single Barrel reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Stagg | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 130 proof (65% ABV) +25 proof | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $120 | ~$55 – $70 ~$33 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Stagg 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
Stagg
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Stagg New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Stagg 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Stagg 9 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
heat 10/7 heat: Stagg 10 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
spice 7/9 spice: Stagg 7 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Stagg 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Stagg 5 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Stagg: Uncut and unfiltered Buffalo Trace at a proof that demands respect. Dark chocolate, espresso and charred oak arrive with genuine heat, and a few drops of water unlock a surprising amount of fruit.
- New Riff Single Barrel: The single-barrel expression of New Riff's 30% rye mash, non-chill-filtered and at higher proof than the bonded version. As dry and peppery as bourbon gets before it stops being bourbon.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Stagg if you want the biggest, hottest, most concentrated expression of the Buffalo Trace profile with significantly more proof behind it.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Stagg); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).