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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs New Riff 8 Year
Comparing Willett Pot Still Reserve and New Riff 8 Year reveals a matchup between a modern, even-keeled craft expression and a modern, spice-driven craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | New Riff 8 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 8 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$15 less | ~$65 – $70 |
- Willett Pot Still 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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff 8 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve New Riff 8 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, New Riff 8 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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 Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it 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 slightly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff 8 Year).