New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Bottled In Bond

Smooth. good price. Semi complex taste. Pleasing and well rounded nose. Good neat or interesting on ice. May be a bit thinner seeming mouth feel. Really good $40 bottle, Stands up and is top notch at that price.

Good $40 bourbon

New Riff was started in 2014 by Ken Lewis, former owner of The Party Source, a large liquor retailer. Privately owned, the distillery is lead by individuals hailing from retail and craft brewing industries. Instead of simply hiring a head distiller with background in whiskey, the owner and partners were given advice to think about recruiting a brewer instead. The reason why? Because brewers know fermentation and what sort of impact the fermentation stage has on flavor. Brian Sprance was recruited from Boston Beer and is the head distiller and production manager at New Riff. The vision for the distillery serves as the name as well: a new riff on old tradition. Their goal is not to sell a story of a brand that goes back generations with a bottle of whiskey, but to make excellent whiskey in a new way that honors old traditions. New Riff Bottled in Bond mash bill is 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley. The nose is powerful and bold with cinnamon, caramel, honey, cherry, oak, and slight grassy and herbal note. On the palate I get hit with charred oak, leather, and black pepper spice that transitions to sweeter flavors such as cola, vanilla, and candied orange peel. Finish is long with spice, charred oak and caramel flavors.

Very unique. Strong licorice (which I like). And some caramel as well. Have not had any bourbon like this, but it’s welcomed.

Fall 2015 Bottling Nose: butterscotch, brown sugar, caramel are present. Its more on the young, fresh, and citrus side of bourbon. Swirling with a Glencairn glass cap reveals notes of freshly sanded lumber. Some floral notes with cinnamon in the background as well. Palate: mouthfeel is wonderful. I’ve compared it to several bourbons at its price point and it is remarkably superior due to non-chill filtration. Brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and caramel. Cinnamon and rye spice is present during the development, but it’s not overly spicy. Getting some mint after several tastes. Oak on the finish with a little bit of burnt caramel and mint. Bonus points for proof, labeling transparency, and bottled-in-bond quality. Very solid table bourbon.