New Riff Rye Bottled In Bond

New Riff Kentucky Straight Rye Bottled In Bond
Distilled Spring 2015; Bottled Spring 2019

50% ABV
$50
Website

What the Distillery Says

BOTTLED IN BOND WITHOUT CHILL FILTRATION
100% RYE (95% RYE, 5% MALTED RYE)
AGED AT LEAST 4 YEARS

New Riff Distilling’s core Rye whiskey is full-bodied, offering hugely spicy character. Building upon America’s 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act—already the highest quality standard for aged spirits in the world—New Riff Rye is Bottled In Bond Without Chill Filtration. Featuring a unique mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye, it represents a new riff on our hallowed local Rye whiskey traditions. Aged four years in full-size 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, there are no shortcuts taken in its traditional production. All New Riff whiskeys are made with the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen; all carry an age statement and are always bottled without chill filtration.

Our distillers learned the black arts of the hardest whiskey in the world to make—the famed 95% Rye—under the direct tutelage of the distiller who mastered it in Indiana, Larry Ebersold of Seagram’s. Taking Master Larry’s instruction in hand, we put a riff on it to the tune of adding 5% malted rye, a unique twist that aids in pulling additional flavors out of the rye and adds a touch of the elegance of malted rye. New Riff Rye is splendid with a splash of water, and of course folds magnificently into classic Rye Manhattan and Old Fashioned cocktails.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Extra rich, unfiltered deep amber color.
Nose: Spicy and detailed, showing mint, black pepper, and vanilla with hints of orange and oak.
Taste: Cinnamon spice, vanilla and sweet toffee moving into a bold mouth feel with rich Rye spice, caramel and toasted oak. Complex flavors drink older than four-year-old.
Finish: Bold Rye spice with vanilla buttercream and lingering brown sugar, plus a mineral-grassy Rye tone that fades slowly.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Big time rye spice with mint, dill, citrus spice tending more towards lemon/lime than orange, some vanilla with cracked pepper, pine, and subtle oak.
Palate:  Nice creamy mouthfeel with a sharp rye bite, vanilla, mint, cinnamon, pepper, a lemon/lime citrus zip with a bit of caramel.
Finish:  Short with minty pepper notes and lingering caramel sweetness.
Comments:  I’ll agree with that that this drinks better that most four-year old ryes. I appreciate the non-chill filtration, and that definitely helps. This takes water well, opens up the pine on the nose and mellows the rye bite a bit, bringing up a bit of honey. I won’t lie – $50 for a 4 yr bottle-in-bond rye stung at the register, but in a blind tasting – I liked this markedly more than Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond (and only a tad less than Pikesville 110 Rye, which is a bit higher ABV and 2 yrs older). After listening to an interview with Ken Lewis by Bourbon Pursuit (which was after I wrote this review), I’m an even bigger fan – and can’t wait to see how New Riff’s whiskey is with some age on it.

Rating: Stands Out