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Woodford Reserve vs New Riff Single Barrel
On paper Woodford Reserve and New Riff Single Barrel are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (90.4 vs. 105) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | New Riff Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 105 proof (52.5% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
New Riff Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve New Riff Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/9 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/4 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 4 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, New Riff Single Barrel 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a 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 neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, old-fashioned (New Riff Single Barrel).