New Riff Balboa Rye

Black licorice, rye spice and everything nice!

Nose is unique with cereal grains, lemon pepper, musty cellar, sugar cookie, pumpernickel bread, and grassy rye in the vein of a field of fresh rye stalks. Ethanol next to nil. On the palate, much sweeter than the nose would indicate (thankfully) and there is a LOT going on here but the flavors are so rounded and well integrated that picking out individual notes is a bit of a challenge, but I’ll try; key lime, pancake batter, caramel, nutmeg, vanilla, cola nut, green apple, and a hint of ginger. If that sounds like a bizarre mix, it is. It’s also delicious. Finish is quite long for the proof and is a continuation of the palate with a slow morph into cinnamon, grains of paradise, cookie dough, and pear. Mild chocolate note after everything else fades. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy which is a real compliment. Jesus H, this is outstanding. A perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and herbal notes. I spent $94 on this and regret nothing. New Riff as a distillery is a total sleeper as their standard releases are substantially above average, and their limited releases are truly exceptional. Will seek a replacement when this one is gone.