Honest New Riff Single Malt Review: Is It Any Good?
I finally got my hands on the bottle for this new riff single malt review , and truthfully, I've been inquisitive about what these guys would do with 100% malted barley for a really long time. If you've followed the whiskey scene over the last few yrs, you understand New Riff has basically become the poster kid for "doing items the right way" in Kentucky. These people didn't source their own juice; they constructed a distillery, waited for their very own stuff to age group, and stuck to the Bottled-in-Bond take action like it was religion. But the single malt? That's a curveball regarding a distillery that made its title on spicy high-rye bourbons.
What Exactly Is This particular Stuff?
Just before we dive into the glass, let's talk about exactly what New Riff is usually actually putting away here. This isn't just a Scotch clone made in Kentucky. It's a very specific, quite intentional "Kentucky style" American Single Malt.
First off, it's Bottled-in-Bond . That means it's a minimum of four years old, an item of a single distilling season, and bottled at exactly a hundred proof. For a single malt, that's actually pretty punchy. Most entry-level Scotches sit at 40% or 43% ABV (80 or 86 proof), so right off the bat, you're getting more "oomph" with this one.
The mash costs is where issues get interesting. New Riff didn't just use one type of barley. They used a blend of five different malted barleys, which includes some specialty things like Crystal malt plus Chocolate malt. In the event that you're a build beer fan, individuals terms probably sound familiar. They're usually utilized in stouts and porters to add depth and roasted tastes, which definitely means into the last rum here.
The First Pour: Appear and Nose
When you pour this into the Glencairn, the first thing a person notice is the color. It's obtained a deep ruby hue that looks a little older compared to its four-year age group statement suggests. That's the Kentucky heat for you—those barrels are working overtime in the humidness.
When I actually first put the nose towards the glass, I didn't get the "sea salt and peat" vibes you might anticipate from an Islay Scotch. Instead, it's a lot more focused on orchard fruits and baking spices . There's a distinct smell of baked reddish colored apples—the kind that have been sitting down in a pan with cinnamon plus brown sugar.
After it sits for a minute, the "New Riff" personality begins to peek via. There's a certain earthy, grain-forward fragrance that reminds you it is a craft item. It's not overly polished or muted; it's bold. You can also recognize those specialty malts—there's a hint of cocoa powder and perhaps some toasted breads lingering in the background.
Will the "Sour Mash" Make a Difference?
New Riff uses the particular traditional Kentucky bad mash process intended for this single malt, which is fairly rare in the world of malt whiskey. Usually, single malts are "sweet mash, " meaning they start new with every set. By using a bit of the previous fermentation (the backset) within the new batch, New Riff adds a layer of consistency and a particular type of funk. In order to me, it gives the nose a somewhat tangy, citrus-peel edge that keeps it from being as well sweet.
Tasting Notes: How It Actually Drinks
Now for your component you actually value in a new riff single malt review : the taste.
The particular first sip is surprisingly oily. They have a great mouthfeel—not thin or watery at all. The a hundred proof gives it a good little "Kentucky hug" on the way down, but it's not harsh.
The Palate: * Initial strike: You obtain a burst of darkish fruit—think plums or even dried cranberries. * The center: This is how the malt stands out. It tastes such as honey-nut cereal or even toasted granola. It's sweet, but in a grainy, wholesome way. * The Angle: Regarding halfway through, these chocolate malts show up. It's not really like eating the Hershey bar; it's more like the bitterness of dark chocolate or black coffee. It amounts out the fruity sweetness perfectly.
One thing I noticed would be that the spice profile differs from their bourbon. While their bourbon is definitely heavy on the particular black pepper and clove from the particular rye, this single malt is more regarding ginger and nutmeg . It feels warmer and a little bit more "holiday-ish. "
The conclusion: Does It Linger?
The finish is where a lot of young whiskeys fall apart, but this one keeps its own. It's medium-to-long and remains pretty dry. As the fruit ends away, you're remaining with a lingering taste of charred oak and a bit of that cocoa bitterness I mentioned earlier.
I'll be honest: there exists a slight "green" or "youthful" note here at the very finish. It's that grainy, grassy taste a person get with whiskeys that haven't spent a decade in the wood. It's not a dealbreaker, and a few people actually prefer that "distillery personality, " but it's worth noting in the event that you're used to 18-year-old Macallan. This particular is a various beast entirely.
So how exactly does It Evaluate to Other American Single Malts?
The particular American Single Malt (ASM) category will be exploding right right now. You've got huge players like Westland in Seattle plus Stranahan's in Co. So, where does New Riff suit in?
I'd say this is much "heavier" compared to something like Westland. Westland often feels extremely elegant and focused on the grain's subtle nuances. New Riff, on the other hand, senses like a bridge among Scotch and Bourbon . Because it's aged in new charred oak barrels (just like bourbon) instead of utilized barrels (like most Scotch), it absorbs much more vanilla plus caramel from the particular wood.
When you're a bourbon drinker who would like to attempt single malt yet finds Scotch the bit too "thin" or "medicinal, " this really is probably the perfect entry point intended for you. It offers the and the particular oak influence associated with a bourbon however the complex grain user profile of a malt.
Is It Worth the cost?
You're usually searching at about $70 for a bottle of this. In the world of craft whiskey, that's quite much the standard "sweet spot. " Is definitely it a take? Maybe not. Is definitely it fair? Completely.
A person have to remember that making 100% malted barley rum in Kentucky will be expensive and risky. The climate will be aggressive, as well as the components cost more than corn. When a person buy this, you're spending money on the truth that it's Bottled-in-Bond and non-chill filtered. They didn't take any shortcuts here.
Personally, I think it's a "buy" if you're searching for something distinctive to add to your shelf. It's never going to replace your daily sipper when you're a die-hard rye fan, yet it's a fantastic modification of pace regarding a Friday evening.
Who Is This For?
- The Bourbon Nerd: If you've finished every bottle of New Riff Rye and wish to see what else they can do.
- The Adventurous Scotch Drinker: If you desire to see what happens when a person apply Kentucky custom to malted barley.
- The Collector: It's a relatively new conjunction with their own core lineup and looks great on a bar trolley.
Who Ought to Skip It?
- The Peat-Heads: In the event that you're looking intended for smoke, iodine, or even campfire vibes, you won't find them here. This is almost all about the materials and the wooden.
- The Budget Hunter: If you're strictly looking for the best bang-for-your-buck under $40, this isn't it.
Final Thoughts
Wrapping upward this new riff single malt review , I must say I'm impressed. It's simple for a distillery to get pigeonholed into one design, but New Riff has proven they will can handle a complicated mash costs and still come out with something that tastes like it belongs in Kentucky.
It's strong, it's a little bit gritty, and it's packed with flavor. It doesn't try to be a Highland malt, and it doesn't play the role of the bourbon in cover. It's just its own thing—a hot and spicy, chocolatey, fruity malt that hits tough and stays exciting until the last drop.
In case you see it on the space, I'd say give it a shot. At the quite least, it's an excellent conversation starter for your next tasting evening. It'll be really interesting to discover how this stuff tastes with one more four or 5 years in the barrel, but for now, the four-year-old Bottled-in-Bond version is really a solid win.