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Wild Turkey 81 vs New Riff Single Barrel
Comparing Wild Turkey 81 and New Riff Single Barrel reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 81 | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $25 ~$40 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Wild Turkey 81 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 81 New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/9 spice: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 2/7 heat: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 4/6 oak: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
- 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 Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with New Riff Single Barrel if you want the most aggressively spice-driven bourbon in this list, with single-barrel variation on top with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).