New Riff Balboa Rye

Nose of subtle dill and mint, some vanilla Palette: not too sweet but faint maple syrup up front, mid palette has some herbal notes like oregano and dill, more syrup and subtle spice on the back end but overall well balanced, not peppery, great sipper

Citrus and wood polish nose. Palate is spicy wood and lemon. Reminds me of Rieger’s 100 proof rye but more subdued and smooth. There’s banana nut bread behind the barley, brown sugar and cinnamon. Finish is dry and spicy.

The mouth feel was almost creamy, milky feeling which was definitely unusual, but, not gonna lie, pretty nice. I had heard great things about this bottle and in that initial moment I was in full agreement. However, as the palate develops I am just walloped by the spiciness typical of rye but to the max, like Red Hots on rye toast. And, I never chose rye toast. So, in the end, I’m not a huge fan.