Barrel #5259, distilled 29AUG2017, bottled 21SEP2021, 108.8 proof, picked by Jay Erisman, Co-Founder. For some reason, I have not officially rated my many previous bottles of this single barrel that I've gone through. As always, I only buy the single barrel rye and bourbon directly from the distillery, only after I have tasted all 3 offerings and picked my favorite, mostly because I want to experience what members of the distillery thought good enough to pick from these barrels. Jay's picks have been my last few purchases, and although this was my favorite pick of the 3 at the distillery, I look forward to tasting it again in a slower environment. An expected color of a 4 year bourbon, very similar to their other single barrels. Bright rye, citrus peels, and bruleed brown sugar on the nose. The scent showcases classic bourbon notes remiscent of some older, more established distilleries and their bourbons. Compared to the other 2 available single barrels, this one is the most familiar and "classic." The rye immediately penetrates the gums on the first sip, giving cinnamon and deep mint flavors, but saving the burning spice for later on in the throat. The mashbill is already a decent balance, but this barrel really combines perfectly mellowed rye flavors with a good amount of sweet corn that allows a fuller body for the finish. The finish focuses entirely on the rye, letting some of the initial notes seep from the gums and combine with a high proof that gives plenty of spice when combine with air, but isn't so overpowering that it doesn't compliment the other found flavors. When reviewed by itself, this sounds somewhat bland and quite close to notes found on the standard New Riff bourbon. This is certainly true, but all of these notes are greatly elevated, and create a bourbon that's approachable by a good number of folks, but can be recognized still as a unique single barrel. One of the management members of New Riff once told me that their standard bottled in bond offerings fully represent their vision for their desired bourbon, and the single barrels are "experiments" and different takes on the standard stuff. I tend to disagree across the board; a single barrel selected by a distillery member should be an elevated version of whatever your standard offerings are, and should be just as susceptible for judgment as a batched blend, if not more so. This barrel is an ideal sample of this thought, and would really only benefit from a few more years age.