New Riff 4 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

This bottle was patiently waiting in my liquor cabinet, a gift from a friend. I finally opened it and found it makes absolutely smashing Old Fashioneds with turbinado simple and Angostura. I'm on my last dram and thought it might be good to get my impressions down. On the nose, this hits rich and oaky with lots of wood sugars. It smells like I recall my grandpa's wood shop smelling when he was finishing furniture. On the palate, this is a wonderful combination of oily sweetness and black pepper. The balance is near perfect, the flavor rich without tasting of ethanol. It's strong, and the finish is sweet, moderately long, and extends well into the throat. I get a lot of figs, brown sugar, cinnamon, black pepper, and some ginger. This reminds me of Old Forester 1910, but perhaps better? I'd love to compare them side-by-side. Certainly, this is hotter at 105.8 proof and more forward, but both share that thick, rich, and sweet supporting structure. This is a very good bourbon. As with all Single Barrels, the challenge is finding another one. One thing is certain: I'll be getting another bottle (or several) of New Riff expressions!

Distilled - September 2020 Type - ISC Cooper’s Reserve HT #1 Char Building - Warehouse C Location - Floor 2 Row 3 Tier 1 Barrel No - 29967 Aroma - A diverse range of spices truly comes through on the nose (cinnamon, slight nutmeg and allspice, coriander, clove). Hints of red apple and caramel are present. A slight toasted marshmallow note as well. Quite distinctive, with complexity well above average. Taste - The complexity doesn't quite match the aroma. More caramel and vanilla sweetness is present here than in the nose. The spices are also noticeable in the mid-palate and the initial part of the finish, creating a very pleasing sensation. Then the alcohol hits forcefully, diminishing the sweet caramel and vanilla notes. The alcohol's presence persists even after a couple of minutes. Overall - This is genuinely an excellent single barrel for the price. There's a strong heat/alcohol profile on the finish that detracts from the sweetness experienced at the front and mid-palate, which I wish were more subtle. However, overall, this is a fantastic bottle, and one I intend to buy again locally.

This exceptional, intense Single Barrel Cask Strength High Rye Bourbon was crafted with a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% Rye & 5% malted barley; then aged for 4 years in American oak before being bottled at 114 proof. It begins aromatically with notes of caramel, baking spices, and hints of vanilla & menthol. A rich & complex profile follows, adding notes of vanilla, butterscotch, mint, oak, and rye spices ranging from clove to cinnamon & black pepper. It concludes with a long & warming finish featuring notes of cinnamon & orange zest.

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon [Barrel # 22445] is an outstanding, intense, Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from New Riff Distilling in Kentucky. It's made with a mash bill of 65% corn, 35% rye & 5% malted barley, aged for 4 years in American white oak barrels, and bottled at 113.1 Proof. It presents a delicate beginning with hints of grain, wood, herbs & spices. A bold middle phase adds notes of butterscotch, brown sugar, freshly baked bread, marshmallow & mint, leading to a long & warm conclusion with notes of pepper, oak, vanilla, cinnamon, clove & rye spice. April 2024.

PROOF - 113.5 ALC./VOL. - 56.75% BARREL No. - 21377 NEAT NOSE - Candied Oranges, Caramel, and Brown Sugar. All notes are powerful and surprisingly extremely balanced. PALATE - This whiskey covers the palate with a velvety mouthfeel. The nose transfers to the palate with the surprise of a little rye spice throughout. Thankfully, it's not overpowering but complements the sweetness. FINISH - Long and Delicious BUY? - Yes! Stop passing this by if you have been! For the price, it’s one of the best values out there! BUY AGAIN? - Absolutely. A keeper!

I stand by my last rating. This is a strong 3 1/2, and I’m glad I have another bottle, albeit from a different location. So, given that these are single barrels, it could taste completely different. The thing that stands out is that it's only 101 proof, but it drinks proofier, in a good way. It’s very spicy for a bourbon. My major criticism is that the finish is very short and it’s very drying on the palate. I think if this wasn’t the case, it would rank a quarter to a half a star higher.