Ol' New Riff Rye Whiskey

Opened 6 months ago Nose: Sweet cereal grain, salted peanuts, grilled peach, clove, allspice, subtle oak, and light ethanol. Palate: Tastes of Honeynut Cheerios, peanut brittle, peach cobbler, praline, milk chocolate, and pine syrup. The finish is medium, with dry grain, honeycomb, slightly bitter oak, clove, white pepper, and light ethanol. These seasonal offerings from New Riff are quite enjoyable, and this might be my favorite from the past couple of years. I usually sample their products at a bar before purchasing, but I took a chance on this one without trying it first. It stands apart from typical rye whiskeys, even most of New Riff's own rye expressions. I generally don't favor grain-forward whiskeys, but the honey and pine notes work well here. The finish, being short and dry, limits the score to a 4, but it remains an excellent value. If you visit New Riff, I strongly recommend trying a sample.