New Riff 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This is an exciting development for the distillery, and this 8-year offering certainly warrants celebration. Very few American whiskey producers can craft a 4-year bourbon that drinks like something significantly older, yet this distillery consistently achieves this with ease, in my opinion. All the components are in place for a straightforward, no-frills bourbon, including a proof of at least 100 in all their products, no chill filtration, and a high-rye mash bill, embodying the philosophy of not fixing what isn't broken. I appreciate the brand's message, and I once discussed with a representative how the single barrel selections by staff and others represent a fresh take on the standard bottled product. Now, we have a bourbon (and a rye whiskey I'm eager to try) that is twice the age without a substantial price hike. Making this a permanent release will be highly beneficial for the brand, and I'm curious to see if this age tastes as expected or if it even surpasses its stated age. The legs are quite substantial, despite the fairly watery appearance of the meniscus. Nevertheless, it possesses a deep color, reminiscent of the exterior of a weathered oak barrel in low light. The initial aroma is bold with spicy rye, but this intensity is fleeting, as notes of creamy banana, red fruit, and even a hint of bubblegum emerge. Subsequent nosing shifts the bubblegum towards eggnog, with the fruit and a citrus flavor remaining, but leaning towards creamy rather than spicy (though the characteristic rye spice is still present). The first sip is thin and somewhat watery, but with a few more sips, flavors of meringue or egg cream (distinct from eggnog due to the rye spices) emerge, along with classic cinnamon and grassy notes from the rye, a considerable amount of vanilla, and creamy, almost toasted oak. The finish is rather light, with a slight lingering rye presence, but this is where I finally notice the corn, and how its raw character is absent compared to the original bourbon. Instead, the new grain flavor is smoother, creamier, and possesses a more concentrated sweetness overall. I consider this a significant success for the distillery, particularly given the reasonable pricing for this older version. The 8-year expression emphasizes oak and corn sweetness, contrasting with the ~4-year, which allows the potent rye to be more prominent. Since this soft, almost sugary vanilla sweetness is typically found in much older bourbons (often 15+ years), I'm pleased to report that this product aligns with the brand's trajectory and indeed tastes double its stated age, despite its primary drawback being its thinness. As impressive as this is, the next logical step is the essential release of 8-year single barrel/barrel picks for both the bourbon and rye, as the unique and subtle flavors discoverable in those 'new riffs' are too valuable for the distillery not to share with the public.

The nose is rich and full, with notes of caramel flan, custard, baker's chocolate, nutmeg, damp cellar, and mature oak. Very little ethanol. The aroma isn't the most complex, but what's there is nice. The palate mirrors the nose well and is so seamlessly integrated that it's actually difficult to discern individual flavors, but I'll attempt to; a powdered sugar note I notice in many New Riff expressions, vanilla custard, light caramel, walnut, duck sauce, apple, and…is "candied oak" a thing? If not, it is now. Everything has a light and airy feel. Very tasty. The finish brings heavy barrel char, warm mild spice (allspice and clove), black pepper, black cherry, and a hint of mint, but it's surprisingly and disappointingly short. The mouthfeel is extremely slick and oily but on the lighter side of medium-bodied, which suits the flavor profile well. I'm a huge New Riff fan, and this doesn't disappoint but still offers slightly more promise than results; what I wouldn't give for a 120 proof 10-year-old single barrel! Maybe someday, haha. In the meantime, this is very solid for the $75 I paid, although I wish it were more readily available instead of having to order it by mail. If you enjoy lighter yet still full flavors, this is for you.

About $70 after tax for an 8-year-old, 100-proof bourbon. It's okay... not great. From a CRAFT bourbon distillery? Oh... that's kinda fair! Nose - It's New Riff. Whatever they do... they can't escape being New Riff! But let's add raisin fruits and leather with dark chocolate notes. Taste - Again... it's New Riff! If you know, you know, right? But now we add a huge layer of both dark and malted chocolate notes. Hints of butterscotch sneak in. There's a depth and complexity around what is otherwise a fairly normal bourbon for those of us who like New Riff. Bottom line... damn good for $70 (after tax). I want to do something silly like 3.0 just because I'm the first reviewer and I know I'm scoring lower than the community, but 2.25 is a very fair score by my standards. This is a well-done, really good bourbon. But it's not WOW level. They are showing 100% that at 10-12 years they might be putting out BTAC-level stuff. This is really going to a great place, not just good.

Nose: Hints of caramel, vanilla bean, dark cherry, baking spices, and toasted oak. Some notes of dried fruit and herbal rye emerge. Palate: Upfront, rich toffee and dark caramel are layered with cinnamon, clove, and cracked black pepper from the rye. Balanced sweetness with oak, leather, and a whisper of cocoa. Finish: It's long and warming, with spicy rye and oak lingering, accompanied by a dark fruit and subtle chocolate note at the very end.

What I consider both a compliment and a criticism of this bourbon is that it seems comparable to Four Roses Single Barrel, which is one of my favorite bourbons at any price. It has deep caramel, woody vanilla, and spicy rye. The criticism is that 4R SiB can be found for $45, a full $30 less than this cost me. It might even be slightly better than the 4R, but not enough better to justify the higher price.

The aroma is not complex, but it's pleasant, straightforward peanuts and chocolate, maybe a bit of oak and leather. The palate brings more: sweet chocolate, cinnamon, fall spices, and black pepper. I lose the nuttiness from the aroma. The finish lingers nicely with the chocolate and pepper. Ice mellows the pepper; it's good either way. Solid, good proof (100), and a decent price ($70).