New Riff 8 Year Kentucky Straight Rye

New Riff, one of very few craft distilleries who know exactly what they're all about and know how to make consistently good tasting and well priced products. Giving us very affordable 8 year entries of both bourbon and rye is exactly what American buyers want and need, and I'll continue to support distilleries that actually listen to their customers like this. Although I prefer younger ryes, 8 years is still not old enough to take away too much of the spicy notes, especially considering New Riff continue to use the golden standard 95/5 mash bill. 100 proof, no charcoal filtering (what a shame this is still in use at all), and no other gimmicks means this is likely another winner. The color rocks a deep chestnut, with just a tinge of cherry red floating around. The nose combines toffee, saltines, dried lemon peel, a bit of dark fruit, and a general spiciness that's part cinnamon, part ethanol. The flavor is quite fruity initially, with banana and assorted berries leading the way. Either the proof or the rye itself spice things up after this, but definitely not too much, and allow more of the savoriness from the grain to remain, likely thanks to the longer age time. Oaky sweetness is somewhat present around the finish, but things are generally more spice-forward overall, along with a return of the berries from before, this time with just a squeeze of lemon. There isn't much to say here, since this hits the expected mark from both the distillery and the product itself. This isn't to say that the 4 year products should be retired, especially not the rye, as the younger expression carries much more of the harsh spice that rye lovers like myself crave. However, as I sit here and finish my review and let me last sip linger in the mouth for several minutes, I realize the finish builds and strengthens over time, instead of the usual behavior of falling off and weakening. This, like all of New Riff's products, tastes much longer aged than the label suggests, which is not just their trademark for me at this point, but also allows customers to explore the flavors of higher aged American whiskey without all the hassle of the price or nonsense allocation, and that makes for one of the most patriotic and supportive distilleries that I can think of.

Enchanting, ethanol-free nose consists of cotton candy, citrus, vanilla creme, rye crisp crackers, pine, and raspberry. A little rickhouse funk emerges over time. Palate matches the nose very well, with a big burst of raspberry followed by candied oak, spun sugar, cardamom, peach, basil, and dark chocolate. Flavors pop and are extremely well integrated. Looooooooong finish offers more crystalline sugar, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, leather, and tobacco. Mouthfeel is chewy and velvety; a delight. There’s a lot going on here and overall an exceptional albeit non traditional rye; drinks more like a high rye bourbon. The cotton candy/spun sugar note that appears from nose to finish is a little much, but it is a minor flaw. At $74.99, it’s a steal. However, I found both the 6 year Malted and Balboa Ryes to be slightly more diversified in flavor profile earning this a slightly lower rating than those offerings.

Nose at first is green apple and vanilla. As it sits in the glass a little oak emerges. Baked goods, pastry, maybe a green apple pie. A little cinnamon and mint. Palate is more citrus along with sweet tea and mint. Slight herbal note, but not quite dill. A nice oakyness comes toward the finish. I imagined I would like this more than the 8 year bourbon because I generally favor ryes to bourbons, and because I like New Riff’s ryes more than their bourbons. Indeed, I do like this better, but not by as much as I imagined, which is more I think a testament to how good the bourbon is, not that the rye is disappointing in any way. Both given 4 stars, but the rye slightly edges out the bourbon for me, but maybe mostly because I'm more a rye-guy.

Figured I'd just leave first impressions here. Nose - simple, classic rye. Not much oak or anything big or special here. Clean sweetness is really the central theme. More than you might expect. Taste - The arrival is almost like this crystalline sugar with a touch of a sour candy note over vanilla. Pretty yummy. Finish- nice finish, leather and tobacco, pretty good linger too. A darn good rye, but dare I say not really a big step up on the neck from the 4 years. More oak and leather/tobacco. It's good. 2.5 for a neck pour. I can't say I'd chase this down. If you see one and want older rye, go for it. But so far their malted rye is their true go to rye.

Nose: I first noticed a sweeter grassy (pea / potato?) note, oat-like rye spice, lighter stone fruit with a lemon zest. Some peppery oak, and slight solvent astringency. Taste: Sweet pea and honey seems to dominate here for me up front...which is strange. Notes of stone fruit and honeysuckle come through, then it unfolds into a nice carmel. There is a nice white pepper / oak hit on the tail end, and a suprisingly longer finish than expected. T8ke: 7.4

Damn this rye really impressed me. For one thing it has a deep rich oakiness that just works. A sweet rye, but with a savoriness to the nose that keeps me coming back. To me this isnt obviously a rye, i could be fooled into thinking it were a bourbon.