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Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year vs New Riff 8 Year
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and New Riff 8 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a new-wave, rye-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 8 years +4 yr |
| Proof | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $75 | ~$65 – $70 |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 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
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/5 heat: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by batch.
- 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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate.
- Go with New Riff 8 Year if you want an older, deeper take on New Riff's spicy high-rye recipe with an older age statement and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).