New Riff 4 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

Crazy smooth, pleasantly surprised

Barrel 16-2899 105.7 proof. Not available in my state, but due to the wonders of mail order, here we are. On the nose, getting butterscotch, orange zest, Kola nut, copper, musty old paper, and a hint of ethanol but it’s forgivable at this proof. Palate opens with brown sugar, orange rind and candy corn, before transitioning into some vanilla, ginger, and (call me crazy) a hint of Unami flavor. (Soy? Teriyaki?) Flavors are robust and more integrated than the bottled-in-bond. Flows smoothly to a medium length finish of white pepper, toasted oak chips, mild cinnamon, and clove. Mouthfeel is slick at first but then dry as the Sahara, which has the net effect of making you want another sip. After everything fades the mid palate flavors linger, which I really enjoyed. Maybe I got a honey barrel, but I found this to be a delight. Not for the faint of heart, this bourbon punches above its weight class. At the $57 I paid we are definitely talking craft distillery pricing, but I don’t feel ripped off in the slightest and I will miss this when it’s gone.