Compare
W.L. Weller Special Reserve vs New Riff 8 Year
Put W.L. Weller Special Reserve next to New Riff 8 Year and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a contemporary, high-rye craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | W.L. Weller Special Reserve | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$30 – $60 ~$23 less | ~$65 – $70 |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve 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
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
W.L. Weller Special Reserve New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/8 spice: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 2 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: W.L. Weller Special Reserve 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The entry point to the Weller line and an easy introduction to wheated bourbon. Soft honey and vanilla with almost no rye bite, a bread-dough body, and a short, sweet finish that asks nothing of you.
- 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 W.L. Weller Special Reserve if you want the softest, sweetest, most approachable wheated pour of the group at a 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 without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (W.L. Weller Special Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).