DCLawyer
Reviewed
August 20, 2020 (edited October 7, 2020)
The bottom-in-bond saga continues with New Riff. Have heard great things about them for a couple years, but they are not sold in VA. Finally got a friend to bring back some from OH (the only thing OH is useful for, IMHO). But I digress. Great expectations. Really nice looking modern bottles, too. Let's go.
Pause ... the cork is a black rubber thing. No, no, no. Over the line in coolness-factor attempt. Looks like a stopper for some fluid reservoir from a Chevy engine bay. Sigh. Let's hope the aesthetics people are not the distilling people.
2oz neat in Glencairn at home. Nose is full of sweet apple pie, some caramel, some clove. Hint of the oak, but just a hint. Really nice. Taste has a lot going on, with apple peel over baking spice, some field grains, orange zest, marzipan. Lingering and complex finish, with a hint of dryness on the very tail. The aesthetics people are definitely NOT the distilling people. This is a very well executed BIB bourbon. Great layers, maybe not exactly nuanced but very enjoyable. Strongly recommend. 8/20/2020