New Riff Balboa Rye

Returning to a distillery known for being dependable, New Riff. I say dependable because while their standard bourbon and rye are consistently good for the cost, and the single barrels (which I'll always pick up directly from the distillery after a tasting) are amazing and full of flavor, the "experimental" spirits made for the "Whiskey Club" feel more like marketing and profit plays. When this initially came out (maybe almost a year back), I tried to order it right after getting the email; though my shopping took under five minutes, I couldn't complete the payment because it was already sold out. When I bought this almost a year later, an employee at the distillery clearly recalled the release and confirmed it sold out in four minutes. At first, I thought it was due to a very small quantity of bottles available then, since only so many folks could buy online four minutes after an email announcement, and I questioned how a distillery could offer less product than a typical kid's lemonade stand. Then I saw it reappear for sale here and there over the past year, and I understood the decision was purely about money, and they had adopted a "Buffalo Trace" hype strategy for increased revenue. Frankly, I didn't really want to buy it for that reason, but considering everything at the distillery costs about the same, and I already own several single barrel ryes from them, this was a nice new addition to my collection. The appearance is quite dark, matching the single barrels from New Riff, but this is somewhat surprising for this one, given it's only 100 proof. The anticipated fresh rye grain and cinnamon notes are enhanced by a candied fruitiness, yet it doesn't smell sweet. There's a trace of lemon oil, like it's in the air near the glass, but the primary focus seems to be mixed berries of nearly every kind. I briefly checked the back label of this bottle to see if it differed, and I did notice the tasting notes mentioning red and blue fruit, but I genuinely didn't expect to identify them so quickly and distinctly. Knowing this is pure rye whiskey with no other grains involved, it's surprising to me that its spice is confined to the tongue, barely touching the gums and only appearing much later in the finish. The initial tastes are fruity and even identifiable as berries, but not specific ones. Even the slightest bit of aeration introduces a momentary cinnamon burst, but the fruitiness quickly returns to complement the moderate age of the grains. The finish is medium-short, with the only real lingering sensations starting to seep into the gums as a familiar spice, though not as potent as New Riff's standard rye. With the flavor profile being quite distinctive, though less appealing than the regular rye whiskey, its most captivating aspect for me is the historical narrative it conveys. With the balboa strain being cultivated during a time when rye whiskey was a common (if not overused) remedy in the USA, it makes me feel humble to casually drink what might have required a doctor's order or indicated illness to consume nearly a century ago. With many more rye and other whiskey choices available today, I'm pleased to experience what might have been the initial true exploration of rye whiskey, at a time when people were innovating and creating new spirits without a significant focus on sales and marketing, allowing the distilled and aged grain to express its qualities on its own. This might not be the best-tasting rye currently available, and in fact, it's not even close to being a contender, but the story it tells, if you're willing to pay attention, is worth a glass or two.

I appreciate rye and distilleries that excel, regardless of whether they produce their own spirits or source from MGP. In a recent assessment, I highlighted Sagamore, one of the rye producers doing it right. Now, I'll acknowledge New Riff, another. The distinction is that New Riff offers a single barrel bourbon that, in my experience, is very good, and a BiB bourbon that is acceptable, though not my preferred BiB bourbon. The similarity between Sagamore and New Riff lies in the limited availability in my region. With Sagamore, we get the standard rye bottling and occasionally, one of the special finishes. This means that whenever I'm in Jersey or Delaware and visit a store, I look for Sagamore bottles. I also seek out New Riff, though the selection in my area includes the New Riff Rye BiB, Bourbon BiB, Rye Single Barrel, and Bourbon Single Barrel. That said, I frequently envy reviews of specialty versions of New Riff I encounter online. Malted Rye, Heirloom Grain, Red Wheat... I believe they even have something involving a peated version. I have no idea how these specialty grains or methods impact the rye, but I am eager to discover. So this summer I was in Jersey, and they had the Malted Rye 6 Year New Riff and the Balboa Rye, and I purchased both for about $60. This is the effect of their reputation, prompting me to buy without tasting, at $60, believing I'm likely getting a good deal. And all the while, I question if this is significantly better than the standard BiB Rye or Single Barrel to justify the higher cost. Well, on the nose, this is distinctly a New Riff Rye. It's resinous and malty. The aroma is intense with pine and spearmint, which I recall from the BiB, but I believe the intensity is increasing here, especially if you enjoy a rye nose full of mint and pine. It smells like a freshly cut tree dripping sap over nutmeg, as there's an underlying spice element here that leans more toward savory than sweet. The palate itself is spicy caramel with hints of milk chocolate, and honestly, incredible. While the nose is an amplified version of the BiB, the palate is where this truly shines. It's so rich at 100 proof that it evokes a cask strength rye without the harshness. There's a shift from the palate where caramel and spice become prominent, while the mint and pine recede into the background. The finish then harmonizes the two, balancing the nose and palate in a perfect ratio. Overall, a very fine rye, one I'm glad I acquired and would purchase again. In fact, I don't have the New Riff BiB Rye and might need to get a bottle when my credit card statement resets, though I have my sights set on the Single Barrel bourbon, which was a favorite the last time I tried it. So many options, so little cash.

So, I visited a certain location today and stopped at a distillery, hoping to find a winter whiskey. No luck, but an employee suggested I try a specific rye. It's made primarily from rye with a small amount of malted rye. Made, matured, and bottled at that location. At least 4 years old. This spirit has a deep amber hue. Swirling it leaves a substantial coating in the glass, and slow-moving legs form. What an aroma! It leads with lemon and dill, followed by a faint caramel undertone. I inhaled it for almost an hour before tasting. It doesn't change much, but the dill becomes more prominent while the lemon recedes slightly. It's a bit intense when rolled on the palate, numbing the roof of my mouth. It would certainly be good for a sore throat. The initial taste is dominated by dill, with a pleasant black pepper finish that really lasts. After a few sips, I detect caramel and citrus. The peppery finish remains. (Did I mention that amazing aroma?). It has a chewy texture, and the finish is very long-lasting. I love that black pepper. This is a fresh pour, so it might change in a couple of weeks. When visiting family for a holiday meal, I found the last remnants of last year's bottle. It was fantastic, and I anticipate this one will also improve.

Nose: Unique with cereal grains, lemon pepper, musty cellar, sugar cookie, pumpernickel bread, and grassy rye reminiscent of a field of fresh rye stalks. Very little ethanol. Taste: Much sweeter than the nose suggested (thankfully), and there's a lot happening, but the flavors are so rounded and well-integrated that identifying individual notes is somewhat challenging, but I'll try; key lime, pancake batter, caramel, nutmeg, vanilla, cola nut, green apple, and a hint of ginger. If that sounds like an unusual combination, it is. It's also delicious. Finish: Quite long for the proof, continuing the palate with a slow transition into cinnamon, grains of paradise, cookie dough, and pear. A mild chocolate note appears after everything else fades. Mouthfeel is thick and chewy, which is a significant compliment. This is outstanding. A perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and herbal notes. I spent $94 on this and have no regrets. New Riff as a distillery is a total hidden gem, as their standard releases are significantly above average, and their limited releases are truly exceptional. I will look for a replacement when this bottle is empty.

Served neat. First pour from the bottle. It immediately brings to mind Little Book Chapter 2 on the nose. There's a lemon scent, like Mr. Clean, on top. Further examination of the aroma reveals a deep, intense rye. It's the most intense, pure rye aroma I can recall. Beneath the spice lies a pleasant vanilla that circles back to the citrus and lemon. Some barrel spice is woven into the experience. My initial impression was peculiar, but spending five minutes with it has truly allowed it to open up. Absolutely no licorice, but there's a hint of dill. On the palate, it's very thick and spicy. Primarily spice and dark notes at the forefront. Even dark cocoa is present. It becomes brighter as I taste it more. A kick of rye and dill dominates. That dark cocoa evolves into a smoother milk chocolate. The finish features vanilla and barrel spice on the legs. The legs are moderate. It will return in stages if you let it. The experience noticeably brightens the longer I spend with it. This won me over as the experience unfolded. My initial reaction was "oh dear...." but now I'm thinking "this is really delicious."

Neat. Opened nearly a year ago. This one was misplaced in my collection, but the autumn season has me wanting to revisit some ryes. I recall enjoying this when it was first released but can't remember the specifics. The aroma is intensely citrus-forward. Like a lemon-orange blend, almost like a cleaning product but not unpleasantly so. Not artificial but quite pronounced. Slight dill. Vanilla buttercream. Charred oak. What's notable about this nose is the contrast between light, bright notes and dark notes. Nothing in between. A refreshing rye, though. Nice oily texture. Cinnamon icing on the tongue. Then those bright notes dominate the taste. Vanilla frosting, the orange, the lemon. The finish combines them all for a pleasant creamsicle effect. The rye character in the legs persists for a considerable time. This is a delicious rye. The dessert notes are very prominent, and the rye never becomes overpowering. I should compare this blind against other ryes, but I'd choose this over an MGP.