Distillery: New Riff
Proof: 103.8
Age: 4 years
Mashbill: 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Price: ~$50+
Company
New Riff is a Kentucky-based distillery founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis. They craft a range of whiskeys, including Bourbon, Rye, Malted Rye, and specialty recipes, along with Kentucky Wild Gin. New Riff upholds the Bottled in Bond Act and proudly bottles without chill filtration.
Production
As stated on their website, New Riff Distilling’s Bourbon is a high-rye, full-bodied whiskey aged for four years in 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, bottled at barrel proof without chill filtration.
The production process includes the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen, and each batch is distilled and aged in individual barrels.
New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon Review
Nose – 4/5
New Riff single barrel bourbon boasts a nose filled with enticing aromas of cinnamon, gingerbread, and brown sugar, followed by subtle notes of apple and vanilla.
Palate – 3.5/5
On the palate, this bourbon surprises with heavy caramel and marshmallow flavors, accompanied by hints of vanilla and baking spice, with a slight leather and rye undertone. The more you chew, the more intense the rye and spice become.
Finish 3.5/5
The finish is long and warm, with the rye spice taking center stage, along with vanilla, leather, and oak. The baking spice lingers in the mouth, leaving a satisfying aftertaste.
Value 3.75/5
Overall, New Riff Single Barrel bourbon is a solid offering, with a bit of a wild ride in terms of flavors. It performs remarkably well for a younger bourbon but lacks the general richness that some more aged bourbons have.
New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon Review: The Verdict
3.69/5
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 4.25 – 5
- Gold – 3.25 – 4.24
- Silver – 2.75 – 3.24
- Bronze – <2.75
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.