New Riff 6 Year Bottled in Bond Malted Rye

Bottled-in-bond malted rye whiskey, made from 100% malted rye and aged six years. Tasted neat. Appearance: Light brown copper with good coating legs. Nose: Malt, cherries, and orange chocolate. It's a rather light nose for a bottled-in-bond 100% rye. Palate: Wow! This tastes like rye! Floral fruit, cooked malted grain cereal, oak and maple sugar, chocolate, followed by a burst of rye spice. Not much ethanol, but it's present. The mouthfeel is oily, rich, and has a dry sweetness. It's like a single malt, but it's rye! Finish: Dried sweet grass, light sour cherry, with a tingling mint, clove, and white peppercorn spice that lasts a long time. A pleasant sweet flavor lingers, unlike the sour aftertaste of some ryes. This is not your typical rye whiskey. The spicy rye characteristics are apparent in the finish. The nose and palate are softer and rounder, similar to an unpeated American single malt. There isn't an overwhelming rye explosion in the mouth. It's sweeter with fruit and light maple syrup rather than brown sugar or caramel. It has plenty of spice in the finish, but it's not an intense rye experience. Yet, it's 100% malted rye! It's more complex and intriguing than those 51% rye mashbills that claim to be rye. I even prefer it to another bottled-in-bond rye I had last year, which was more robust and bold—good, but less complex, and didn't push the boundaries of what a rye whiskey can be like this one does! Adding an ice cube mellows this whiskey, particularly the spicy finish, and makes it sweeter. I wouldn't use this in cocktails, as it would mask the unique malt flavor and mouthfeel. This is definitely a sipper. It's an American single malt... but it's rye. I really enjoy this initial tasting, but I plan to revisit it. The unusual flavor profile of this malted rye requires further consideration, but I'm impressed with the outcome. I've tasted it again after a couple of weeks. The more I drink it, the more I like it and appreciate its uniqueness. Moving the rating from 4.5 to 4.75. Cheers!

I'm always keen to open a new bottle from this distillery. In our region, four are commonly found: their two standard 4-year bonded expressions in rye and bourbon, and single barrel versions of both. During a trip to another state, I acquired a specific rye, which I've already reviewed, and a 6-year malted rye, which has been open for about a month. I recently learned that, similar to single malts made from malted barley, malted rye involves germinating the rye to create a starchier, sweeter quality, resulting in a smoother spirit. This is certainly evident here. This might be the most subdued nose I've experienced from this distillery. This isn't to say it's bad, just subtle; it requires patience to discern the aromas. Notes of cocoa powder and brown sugar are present, along with caramel and mint, and a slight woody muskiness. All the characteristic rye scents are there but not overpowering. This isn't a rye that announces itself aggressively, like a certain single barrel might. Additionally, this expression is 100 proof, not 115. The palate is simultaneously spicy and fruity, with cinnamon, cherries, perhaps some orange zest, and dark chocolate on the backend. The dark chocolate flavor transitions into the finish, which is medium in length and full of baking spices, not just cinnamon but nutmeg too, with the mint from the nose reappearing. Overall, I prefer the bolder bottlings I've had from this distillery. This one is good, make no mistake, but I'm not sure there's anything about it that makes me want to spend nearly $70 for another bottle. In summary, if you encounter it at a bar and enjoy this distillery's offerings, it would be a reasonable choice to sample, and this bottle certainly won't go to waste, but sadly, it's not a repurchase for me.

New Riff has produced some delicious bottles. While I can't acquire their more experimental kinds, I've found some of their standard releases (Winter and Balboa). Malted bottles are hit or miss for me. I anticipate a smoother profile and deeper flavor from them all, but sometimes they're just odd (and not in a good way). The aroma is intriguing. It carries an almost toasted vanilla scent that I really appreciate. It's similar to the smell you get from vanilla paste when baking. A promising beginning. My first taste is... acceptable. I'll just say it... wow, this is great. Brown sugar... vanilla.... could this truly be a rye? This delivers on the promise of a MALTED label. It has all the foundational flavors you desire, cloaked in a wonderfully soft finish. A subtle cinnamon warmth appears midway through the sip, then dissipates like those small red cinnamon sweets a grandparent might give you discreetly. The warmth smolders out, leaving you wanting more. The public outscored the critics on this one, with higher ratings than reviews. If you come across this bottle, get it (and if there are two, take the second one also). Another success for the New Riff crew.

On the nose, there's an interesting mix; it begins with typical rye characteristics like lemongrass, rye spice, and mint leaf, but deeper exploration reveals caramel, juniper berry, raspberry, and blueberry. A fruity rye? I'm on board. No ethanol detected. The palate is simply outstanding, delivering on the promises of the nose with raspberry jam, boysenberry, vanilla bean, custard, pie crust, and nutmeg. The flavors are warm, rich, and bold. The finish is long and strong, reminding you it's a rye with notes of white pepper, cinnamon, and mint. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. A distinctive, unconventional, and delightful rye selection. The combination of dessert fruit and herbal notes is masterfully done, creating a very harmonious experience. While I've always found the standard New Riff releases to be solid, this elevates the experience. I spent $76 and have no regrets. I'd buy it again at that price anytime.

Score: 4/5 Scent: Ripe stone fruit, peach jam, creamy peaches, mild rye heat, citrus. Exceptionally sweet aroma with only a hint of rye. Taste: Dried dates, slow-cooked citrus, orange spread, smooth vanilla, slight wood and rye notes. Aftertaste: Sweet orange and additional ripe stone fruit. Just the right amount of spice to balance this rye's sweetness. Summary: The distillery is creating great things with their unique mashbills and malted grains, and this malted rye is just a preview. Considering the cost, this is likely one of my preferred ryes under 100 proof. It offers abundant caramelized sweetness on the nose and palate, yet possesses sufficient spice for equilibrium. For sixty dollars or less, I'd purchase this without hesitation.

An excellent, powerful, Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Malted Rye Whiskey from New Riff Distilling in Kentucky, made from 100% Malted Rye. It's aged for 6 years in American white oak barrels and bottled at 50% ABV. The initial taste is rich with floral fruit, grain, wood, herbs, and spices. The bold and spicy middle brings apple, berries, orange, plum skin, pear, strawberry jam, brown sugar, and honey. It finishes long and warm with pink peppercorn, oak, clove, rye spice, chocolate, coffee, lemon zest, and sugar cookies. April 2024