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Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year vs New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 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 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$65 – $75 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 less |
| 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 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year New Riff Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/4 sweetness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/9 spice: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 9 out of 10
heat 9/6 heat: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 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 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 (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (New Riff Bottled-in-Bond).