New Riff 4 Year Single Barrel Rye

My parents often have a late dinner. When I visit them to watch football, and they are preparing food, my father sometimes gives me a glass of whiskey. Occasionally, the aroma of their cooking wafts into the Glencairn glass. Last night, they were making turkey croquettes. My initial impression upon smelling this New Riff Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye was: is this a meaty rye? I had never encountered a meaty rye before, but it wasn't the whiskey; it was the scent of the turkey. I purchased this bottle as a birthday gift for my father a few weeks ago, and he opened it last night while we watched the Eagles defeat the Washington Football Team. He had previously complimented the New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon I shared on my birthday, so I thought this rye would be a suitable present. While the bourbon, with its high rye content, indeed tasted like rye, this rye surprisingly tastes like a bourbon! Just kidding. In reality, this rye is more intensely rye than most. It embodies all the characteristics you associate with rye: spiciness, herbal notes, and mint. This is where descriptive language can sometimes fall short. If it tastes like other ryes, what distinguishes it enough to earn four out of five stars? How can I explain it's superior when the flavor profile is standard, albeit more potent? Upon smelling it more closely, I detected rich caramel, which is not always a feature of rye. I can recall one, Lot 40, that possesses this, but most others lack it. The caramel here is deeper and richer than in Lot 40, likely due to both the proof and the recipe. A minty pine aroma mingles with the spice on the palate, creating a pleasing combination. Having recently tasted this alongside Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye, I can draw comparisons. This New Riff doesn't have the heavy black tea flavor of the Wild Turkey, nor the pronounced citrus zest. (I didn't detect any citrus; my father did—different palates, as expected.) The absence of tea flavor might be a positive for those who dislike it, or a negative for those who enjoy it, which could sway your decision, especially since both bottles are similarly priced. I personally lean towards the Wild Turkey, but this is a very close second, with a slightly shorter finish. I'd describe its finish as medium compared to Wild Turkey's long, though finish length is always relative. Actually, a better comparison for this whiskey is with the Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye store selections, not the Rare Breed. It's been a few months since I tried one of those Knob Creeks, but I believe they are comparable in both aroma and taste. If you appreciate one, I suspect you'll enjoy the other. At this proof and price point, it's usually a safe bet. The Knob store picks were previously $5 cheaper, and now the New Riff is $5 cheaper since Knob has increased its price. Let's hope they don't engage in a price war that incrementally increases the cost for consumers.

Barrel No. 17-1218. 105.9 proof / 52.95 % ABV. Distilled Spring 2017. Bottled Spring 2021. Nose: Caramel, rye grain, floral coriander. Mint and lavender notes. Freshly cut hardwood. Cereal grains. Milk chocolate and honey. Reminiscent of the milk left after a bowl of sugary breakfast cereal with artificial fruit flavor. Shaving cream. Earthy rye characteristics. Marble birthday cake with vanilla frosting. Sugary, syrupy cooked peaches with cream. The peaches might have been briefly grilled. Peanut butter cookies. Mild ethanol presence that I find quite pleasing here. Palate: Rich caramel, spicy rye grain, mint. Vanilla frosting. Vanilla custard. A strong oak presence that suggests significant bitterness from tannins – this doesn't materialize and isn't missed. Cereal grains, more oak, and hot cinnamon. The creaminess detected on the nose carries through nicely, with frosting and custard notes, layered with a smooth vanilla that feels like a warm embrace for the tongue (rich, oily, heavy body). The finish offers peanut, perhaps some almond, and a hint of milk chocolate. Deep red fruit appears in the periphery after a second pour. Tannins finally emerge, adding a slight bitterness that serves as a pleasant contrast to the sweetness and heat. The heat is a strong cinnamon that starts almost immediately, intensifying in the finish – a mouth-coating lingering warmth that is assertive yet mingled with dark chocolate and subtle roasted coffee notes. This bottle changed my perception of rye whiskey. It's the finest rye I've ever had by a considerable margin. It exceeds any expectation I had for a rye. It's a contender for the best bottle I've ever had, period. I can't identify anything I'd change. Bottles like this are why I pursue whiskey. At $50, the value is incredible. I've sampled bottles at 2x or 3x the price that don't compare. In fact, most bottles at 2x and 3x the price don't measure up. It was the last one on the shelf when I purchased it, and I consider myself quite fortunate – that shelf was empty for a good reason. I will definitely seek out more of this, and more New Riff in general, hoping this barrel wasn't a singular occurrence. * This strategy has proven successful for my whiskey acquisitions: if it's the last item, buy it, as it's likely good. Edit: After reviewing some other tasting notes, which I deliberately avoided before writing my own, it appears I may have encountered their best barrel ever produced. Such is life. I will still explore more New Riff to confirm my findings.

This was a gift, and I have visited the New Riff distillery in KY numerous times. I used to live very close by and appreciated their brews when they were 8-Ball Brewing, making beer for the bar at Party Source. This is my first time sampling NR rye. The pour is a refined walnut color. A swirl reveals slow, substantial legs descending the glass. This bottle has been open for a few weeks, and I've only managed a few sips. On the nose, I detect rye bread, vanilla, maple syrup, and cinnamon. A faint hint of mint appears like an echo. There's a touch of barrel char and some cedar plank suggesting a younger age, but the aroma is impressively balanced and smoothly rounded. On the palate, it's a bit sharper and spicier compared to the Sagamore Double Oak. Notes of toasted almond, maple, baking spices, a little ginger, a touch of mint, and a hint of dill weed are present. The alcohol is noticeable, distinguishing it from a 90 proof imitation, yet it's well-proportioned. This is a genuinely good rye. It just doesn't quite match the Sagamore Double Oak for sipping neat, nor does it possess the bold adaptability of Wild Turkey Rare Breed rye, which I favor for Manhattans and similar cocktails. I enjoy this rye significantly, but its availability in my area is limited, and I believe (I think!) it costs the same as the Sagamore Spirit. Regardless, this rye faces competition from several other spirits. I'm savoring every taste and would likely purchase another bottle if it were available and priced under $60 retail. However, it's not exceptional by any measure. Good. Very good. Just not great. Perhaps after a few more years aging in the barrel..

Purchased at the distillery Barrel No. 10106 Made on 04-09-2018 Bottled on 05-20-2022 Age: 4 years, 1 month, 11 days 54.05% abv; 108.1 proof Opened 7 weeks Nose: Sweet rye spice, citrus oil, caramel, eucalyptus, cereal grain, spruce tips, and moderate ethanol. Palate: Black pepper, pine sap, caramel, clove, dill, cherry cinnamon, dry grain, anise, and orange peel. The finish is medium-long with lingering rye spices, black pepper, oak tannins, a mix of conifer and herbal leaves, and a moderate ethanol burn. New Riff's ryes are superior to their bourbons. I've bought a single barrel of each and visited the distillery bar several times since relocating nearby. The clear reason for this difference is the distillery's youth; ryes mature to their optimal point faster than bourbons. Additionally, the 95% rye / 5% malted rye mashbill is similar to MGP rye, but the malted rye instead of malted barley imparts an extra edge and distinctiveness. At this price point, it competes effectively with other high-rye options. I truly value that New Riff produces its own whiskey, is open about its creations, experiments with diverse mashbills, and prices its products very reasonably. That's quite uncommon for new distilleries nowadays. If you visit the distillery bar, you can sample a flight of single barrels for $20. Since my initial visit, I've opted to skip the bourbons and only sample the ryes and any available limited releases.

Barrel # 16-11542. 104.6 proof. Since this is a single barrel, your experience may differ. Here's mine: The aroma is sharp and herbaceous, with notes of hay, spearmint, lemongrass, anise, pepper, and a touch of overpowering ethanol. While the scent isn't unpleasant, it lacks any sweetness for balance, instead offering an overwhelming herbal blast. The taste is a significant improvement, starting with a deep, rich honey flavor, reminiscent of dark amber honey, completely absent from the smell. (Imagine flavors like butterscotch, peach, cocoa, and plum if you've never tasted darker honey). The herbal notes from the nose reappear in the mid-palate, but the honey persists throughout the finish, which is very welcome. The finish is pleasingly long with white pepper, clove, wintergreen, and light oak notes. The texture is a bit grainy; perhaps slightly rougher than ideal. This is quite a mixed offering; the taste and finish are good, but the aroma and texture are lacking. It might just need a bit more time to age, potentially resolving some of these issues. I did appreciate the way the honey interacted with the herbal elements; there's potential here. I'd be interested in trying a 6-8 year aged version. As it is, for $63, I find it a bit expensive when compared to options like a Knob Creek 115 proof pick or Rare Breed rye. It just misses the mark for a repurchase, but I'll keep an eye on it...

Neat. Neck pour. It's been a while since I opened a new New Riff Single Barrel. I was simply in the mood for something new while watching the sunset. This seemed understated enough for a Tuesday. The maple aroma on this is so warm and inviting. So much spice. Cinnamon, clove, a hint of smoke. Crescent rolls that are slightly burnt but buttered. There's also a freshness, like thyme. Reminiscent of the potpourri in my Aunt Elaine’s bathroom. Simply refreshing. I'm appreciating the oily mouthfeel. Very rich and viscous. Wow, this is very, very floral. Initially, it's quite sweet on the tongue, more honey than maple. It darkens with a bit of cinnamon. But then, at mid-palate, the sweetness intensifies and literally blossoms. A hint of smoke appears on the finish, which is interesting. The finish is mostly a rich caramel, even a touch of flan. The rye spice is present in the background. I had to search for it, but once found, it's a consistent rhythm throughout the tasting. I'm getting this pleasant Kentucky warmth as it goes down, leaving more honey and floral notes in its wake and on my breath. New Riff produces such a lovely rye. I'm just not sure what others are experiencing. These single barrels have been consistently fantastic, offering delightful and varied journeys every time. A perfect way to enjoy this sunset and the multi-colored Ohio sky.