This bottle has been quietly waiting for a while in my liquor closet, a gift from a friend. Finally broke it out and found it to make absolutely smashing Old Fashioned with turbinado simple and Angostura. I'm on my last dram and thought it might be good to get my impressions down. On the nose this hits rich, oaky, with lot's of wood sugars. It smells like I remember my grandpa's wood shop smelling when he was finishing a piece of furniture. On the palate this is a wonderful combination of oily sweetness and black pepper. The balance is near perfect, the flavor rich without tasting of ethanol. It's strong and the finish is sweet, moderately long and extends well into the throat. I get a lot of figs, brown sugar, cinnamon, black pepper, some ginger. This reminds me of Old Forester 1910, but maybe better? I'd love to sbs them... Certainly this is hotter at 105.8 proof and more forward, but both share that thick, rich and sweet supporting structure. This is a very good bourbon. As with all Single Barrels, the trick is getting another one. One thing is sure and that is that I'll be getting another bottle (or several) of New Riff expressions!
About this bottle
New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon is made with the same mash bill as the brand's standard bourbon release: 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. These single barrel releases are selected by retailers or on-premise locations. Each single barrel bottling is aged for at least 4 years in 53-gallon new, charred American oak barrels. Additionally, they are bottled at barrel proof without chill-filtration so expect to see variances in both flavor and proof with each barrel.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 50 parsed reviews.
Distilled - September 2020 Type - ISC Cooper’s Reserve HT #1 Char Building - Warehouse C Location - Floor 2 Row 3 Tier 1 Barrel No - 29967 Aroma - Variety of spices really come through on the nose (cinnamon, slight nutmeg and allspice, coriander, clove). Hints of red apple and caramel. Slight toasted marshmallow as well. Very unique, above average complexity for sure. Taste - Complexity doesn’t quite follow the nose. More caramel and vanilla sweetness comes through here than in the nose. The spices are present as well in the mid palate and in the start finish which creates a really nice experience. Then the alcohol hits really hard which eliminates the sweet caramel and vanilla notes. Even after a couple minutes the alcohol presence continues. Overall - The really is a great single barrel for the price. There is a heavy heat/alcohol profile on the finish which detracts from the sweetness that was experienced at the front and mid palate that I wish was more subtle. But overall, this is a really great bottle and one that I plan on purchasing again at the local store.
New Riff Bourbon Single Barrel Select (2020 private Release) is an outstanding, intense, 'Single Barrel Cask Strength High Rye Bourbon by master distiller Brian Sprance for Ken Lewis founder of New Riff Distillery in Bellevue, Kentucky crafted with a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% Rye & 5% malted barley; then age for 4 years in American oak before being bottled at 114 proof.' It has an aromatic birth with notes of caramel, baking spices, hints of vanilla & menthol; while a rich & complex life adds notes of vanilla, butterscotch, mint, oak, rye spices: from clove to cinnamon & black pepper; that leads to a long & warming death with notes of cinnamon & orange zest. April 2020 / August 2022
New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon [Barrel # 22445] is an outstanding, intense, Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by New Riff Distilling in Kentucky crafted with a mash bill of 65% corn, 35% rye & 5% malted barley; aged for 4 years in American white oak barrels; before being bottle at 113.1 Proof. It has a delicate birth with hints of grain, wood, herbs & spices; while a bold life adds notes of butterscotch, brown sugar fresh baked bread, marshmallow & mint; that led to a long & warm death with notes of pepper, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, clove & rye spice. April 2024
PROOF - 113.5 ALC./VOL. - 56.75% BARREL No. - 21377 NEAT NOSE - Candied Oranges, Caramel, and Brown Sugar. All notes are powerful and extremely balanced surprisingly. PALATE - This whiskey covers the palate with a velvety mouthfeel. The nose transfers to the palate with the surprise of a little bit of rye spice throughout. Thankfully, its not overpowering but complements the sweetness. FINISH - Long and Delicious BUY? - Yes! Stop passing this by if you have been! For the price, it’s one of the best values out there! BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. Shelfer!
I stand by my last rating. This is a strong 3 1/2 and I’m glad I have another bottle albeit from a different location so given that these are single barrels, it could taste completely different. The thing that sticks out with this is, it’s only 101 proof, but it drinks proofier in a good way than that. It’s very spicy for a bourbon.. My major criticism is that the finish is very short and it’s very drying on the pallet. I think if this wasn’t the fact it would rank a quarter to a half a star higher.
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