New Riff offers a robust Single Barrel Program that results in the selection of a one-of-a-kind barrel. Selections are bottled at barrel proof without chill filtration, allowing all of the characteristics of the barrel to shine through. No two barrels are the same, each creating their own story. The barrel selection of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey is nestled in New Riff's turn-of-the-century tasting room located among the thousands of aging barrels in their West Newport Warehouse Campus.
Brian Schmidt, Topflight Panel Member:
New Riff has exploded over the last couple of years and has quickly become one of my favorite new bourbons. Just across the river from Cincinnati in Newport, KY, they've built a fantastic modern distillery and converted an old bus depot into a single barrel selection and bottling facility. (If you're visiting the distillery, make sure you have the correct address, as they're a couple of miles apart.) We were fortunate to tour their facilities in July and are excited to offer you this barrel as the final release for Bourbon Heritage Month.
This is a classic bourbon on the nose, full of baking spices and vanilla. The palate is robust in flavor with a honey that coats the mouth and citrus before a fun peppery finish. It's one of those pours that keeps providing surprises every time you return to the glass, especially with the addition of water or ice. One of the tasting notes provided by assistant distiller Stephanie Battie is "cornbread" on the nose, a bourbon nose I've never thought of before but absolutely fits the savory elements. I can't get enough of the subtle sweetness and buttered bread quality. At a relatively low cask strength of 108.5 Proof and in a gorgeous bottle, this one is easy to share with friends and family that are bourbon aficionados and newbies alike.
TOPFLIGHT: Series 1, Barrel No. 29
PROOF: 108.5
BARRELED DATE: April 2018
Bottle Size: 750ml
