New Riff Red Turkey Wheated Bourbon

Bottled in Bond (100 proof) and aged for at least 5 years, this New Riff Straight Bourbon Whiskey uses a mashbill of 70% corn, 25% red turkey wheat, and 5% malted barley. MSRP $49.99. Nose: Sugary caramel, cinnamon, woodsy notes, and spices for baking. Palate: A swift spicy kick, minty, grainy, with cinnamon, a chewy texture, and complexity. Finish: Drying, lengthy, zesty, with baking spices, concluding with a bread-like taste. Comments: After letting this initial pour sit in the pictured New Riff stemless mini glencairn glass for about 15 minutes, I tasted it. I was curious about the zest and spice in this 100 proof wheated bourbon. While there was some sweetness, it wasn't as pronounced as I anticipate from wheated bourbons. Adding a drop or two of water softened the palate while maintaining its vibrancy. New Riff mentioned they sourced this heirloom red turkey wheat from acquaintances in the baking industry around greater Cincinnati. I would happily purchase this bottle again; it's quite enjoyable. To further explore my experience with this bourbon, I sampled some Maker's Mark 101 and Weller Antique 107 from my collection, tasting each separately and then revisiting the New Riff. The New Riff stands out with the most spice and zest, positioning it as a strong contender in terms of complexity. I hope this review was useful. This bourbon is a new offering, and I wanted to share my thoughts. I acquired the bottle on November 6th, 2021, after purchasing it online during the November 5th sale as a member of the New Riff Whiskey Club. To my understanding, it's being released exclusively to New Riff Rangers, Whiskey Club members, and through an allocated release in the Kentucky market.

Served neat, directly from the bottle. These special New Riff releases have been enjoyable, and expectations were even higher following the impressive Malted Rye. The nose presents a darker profile than anticipated. Dark chocolate and pure cocoa beans are noticeable. Ironically, given the name, there's a Wild Turkey-like funk. Abundant royal vanilla icing is present. A dark fruit note is detected, somewhere between a black plum and blood orange, difficult to precisely identify. It transitions slightly towards white chocolate. There's also a fresh earthy quality, like walking through an open field away from urban areas. Flashes of that scene from Gladiator, running through fields, come to mind. A delightful freshly baked bread note envelops the entire aroma. It's an invigorating scent. On the palate, the mouthfeel is light and airy, yet not thin. It has an oily quality despite being 100 proof. Initially, it's all about cinnamon bread with butter. The mid-palate is where this truly excels. A powerful wave of dark, bitter chocolate is overcome by vanilla icing and a surprising burst of orange zest. A continuous presence of cinnamon and clove is detected. Surprisingly, there's also a hint of mint. The finish is also longer than expected, with cinnamon bread and a drizzle of vanilla icing lasting for an extended period. That orange zest note also lingers. An intriguing wheated bourbon. It possesses a depth of flavor and a lengthy finish that were unexpected. Relaxing on an autumn Sunday with falling leaves, this is an ideal pour for the setting. New Riff should produce more of this expression; it is another successful release. What a year they've had with these special bottlings.

On the nose: maple syrup, caramel corn, mixed berry compote. A delightful aroma, exceeding my expectations for a wheated bourbon, which often tend to be rather one-dimensional. This was genuinely excellent and caught my attention! On the palate: remarkably coating and wonderfully syrupy in texture without being overly sweet. The berries detected on the nose are boldly present, enveloped in gooey caramel with buttery notes reminiscent of syrup-soaked waffles and a touch of blackberry compote. This is then deliciously complemented by a hint of nutmeg. It's a fantastic bourbon, suitable as a digestif or dessert. A rich and decadent indulgence. On the finish: medium to long. It concludes with notes of buttercream and butter brickle ice cream. Overall: until now, New Riff had never impressed me. Their young whiskey, backed by marketing, led many to claim quality single barrel selections in the 4-5 year age range. They made acquiring and bottling barrels quite accessible before establishing credibility for their contents! But this? This is exceptional wheated bourbon! I actually preferred it to Weller 12, Larceny, and Maker's 46! I hope this becomes a permanent offering in their regular lineup. Definitely a recommended purchase.

New Riff rarely disappoints. This wheat-based spirit is crafted with an heirloom red turkey wheat (25%), typically used in baking. The result is a five-year-old complex and surprisingly zesty bourbon. It has a somewhat smoky and earthy character, with an underlying fruity sweetness and hints of chocolate on the finish. This is a very limited release, but a fine addition to the New Riff collection.

Nose: Creamy, Syrupy, similar creaminess to Maker's 46 with 101. Notes: A good, straightforward sipper. Finish: Long and soothing, not complex but has staying power.

Aroma: Sweet tea and caramel Body: Rock candy and cola Finish: Caramel to toffee Excellent!