Neat. The day after the first pour. I opened this last night but couldn't get my thoughts down. I still have quite a few OKI's left, I'm obsessed with the LDI/Seagrams era MGP, and I love New Riff. I am just excited to have this beautiful bottle on my shelf. Talk about glorious oak. Oiled and freshly polished oak. Oaky McOakerson. The oakiest MGP I have ever had. It reminds me so much of WT17 too. Velvety oak. Red velvet cake even. Vanilla royal frosting. A hint of apple but I'm also finding cherry. Charred caramel. A nice dark honey. I'm finally getting past the oak today. The neck pour was just OAK. I am having fun exploring this now. Butterscotch too. The nose has this overall buttery quality. My mouthfeel is silky. Lots of honey up front on the tongue with the oak peaking in stalking me. Bright and sweet mostly though. It’s very rich and silky. The oak is omnipresent. Leather, varnish. Rich caramel accompanied by the rye. Apples and cherries again. It’s interesting. For a 15 year bourbon, it plays these high, mid range, and low notes. The WT17 BiB similarities are still there for me with the oak / cherry combination. This is sweeter though. The vanilla and butterscotch on the finish is so good. The red velvet oak is the best part. It appears right after mid palate and escalates up as the other notes are running down. There is a rhythm and song to this one that doesn’t follow a linear path and makes it really interesting to pick apart. All of the instruments aren’t playing the same thing but weaving in and out in a dance. It’s getting better with each sip. Initially disappointed in this one’s first impression (over oaked) but it truly just needs time to open up and the time to be explored. My favorite pours can make my soul dance, this doesn’t quite go there. My soul is certainly tapping its foot and feeling the groove though.
New Riff Relief 15 Year Straight Bourbon
4.33 Very good
Whiskey Bourbon Indiana 15 Year 50% ABV
Tried it?
How was this pour?
Score this bottleRating a bottle takes an account, so your scores follow you and count towards the number everyone else reads.
About this bottle
This 15-year-old high-rye straight bourbon from New Riff was released in February 2021 to support bar, restaurant, and service industry workers in Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area. The bourbon was distilled in Indiana and bottled by New Riff in Kentucky. It is bottled-in-bond and without chill-filtration. Production was limited to 900 bottles, with all profits going to the Ohio Restaurant Employee Relief Fund and the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. This bottling was only available for purchase at the distillery.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 2 parsed reviews.
A fantastic birthday present. The initial pour offers a sweet aroma, akin to syrup or light molasses, with hints of baking spice. The palate is subtly funky with an unusual sweetness at the end, reminiscent of Sweet Tart candy. Remarkably light for its proof. Truly a delight.
Tastes like this
Same style and price bracket, best rated first.
