 There's been some banter in the industry about New Riff recently. Bourbon and Rye lovers seem to be on the prowl for this new-on-the-scene independent distiller, based out of Kentucky, the Mecca of the finest Bourbon's produced in the world. New Riff is small, independently owned, and distills and ages their own spirits in their distillery--something we see less and less of these days.
New Riff's focus is on Bourbon Rye and Gin, producing very small amounts of each. Within that focus, they have a passion for their Single Barrel expressions. Every barrel expression is different, this is the nature of oak barrels no matter what they hold--beer, spirits, or wine--each will produce a different character, sometimes subtle, sometimes very noticeable. This is where blending comes into play, and a lot of distillers, brewers and winemakers then blend their barrels together to make a single bottling. These can be amazing as well, but a single barrel bottling keeps the true character of that specific barrel and can be greater by itself than blended. The Rye's are a work of art, as a true 95% rye mash bill is one of the most technical mashes to attempt. new Riff enlisted the help and guidance of the top rye producer in the country and master distiller, Larry Ebersold of Seagram’s.
Their gins are hand-crafted with locally foraged ingredients, and utilize a hint of their distilled rye spirit for flavor and texture--as much as we are excited for their brown spirits, the gins are on a level of their own, especially the Bourbon barrel-aged gin, which can be used in more than just your straight gin and tonic cocktail.
New Riff's releases are affordable, and like many of the great entry-level American bourbons out there, they are aged a minimum of 4 years in new heavily charred 53 gallon American oak barrels and non-chill filtered. Many whisky drinkers frown upon chill filtering, as it strips flavor and aroma compounds from the spirit, dumbing it down.
"At New Riff, single barrel expressions are a way of life. As former Kentucky liquor retailers, we are intimately familiar with some of Kentucky’s most famed private barrel Bourbon selections ever, and we bring that experience to New Riff. A New Riff Private Barrel selection, whether for trade or private clients, offers an unparalleled experience, replete with tasting notes and an immersive process in our warehouse. Each New Riff single barrel has been tasted and approved by our production panel. While each Single Barrel owns its specific flavor profile, New Riff Bourbon generally shows big and spicy flavors. This is not a light, delicate, simple whiskey—we have crafted for robust and fulsome flavor from start to finish. Our unfiltered bottling regimen allows all the character of the barrel to shine through in the glass."
We expect to see more from New Riff as they grow, what we have had so far has been impressive. These come into stock in small drops and sell out quickly. A few of these releases are on their way from the distillery now, and will arrive early next week.
All New Riff Spirits are a pre-order and start to arrive next week.
To purchase, please check out online here. As always, you can respond to this email with any questions.
1) New Riff Distilling Kentucky Wild Gin
Sale Price $35.99/btl! Buy Now
New Riff Distilling’s Kentucky Wild Gin is thoughtfully crafted with local wild foraged Kentucky botanicals, capturing the native flavors of the Ohio Valley and reflecting historical Kentucky gin ingredients. Twelve botanicals are distilled right in the pot, including a range of typical European gin ingredients (such as angelica, orris and licorice root, and three kinds of citrus). To these we add two local, farmer-foraged wild seasonings, including a wild juniper berry and the amazing American Spicebush— both of which are on the Slow Food Ark of Taste—plus a bit of Kentucky’s state flower, goldenrod. The base spirit includes a dash of our new make rye whiskey spirit, enriching the texture and lengthening the flavor. Nose: Classic gin botanicals with unique spicebush accents. Palate: Spicy-dry botanical notes backed with Rye New Make richness. Finish: Lively, gripping citrus-spice notes with balanced juniper. Appearance: This non-chill-filtered gin preserves all the flavor and aroma from our copper pot still. It may cloud slightly when chilled. This is not only natural, it is delicious.Botanicals: Kentucky Juniper*,
Traditional Juniper, Spicebush*, Orris Root, Cinnamon, Goldenrod, Licorice, Persian Lime, Angelica, Coriander, Bitter Orange Peel, Lemon Peel. *LOCALLY FORAGED
2) New Riff Distilling Bourbon Barrel Aged Kentucky Wild Gin
Sale Price $39.99/btl! Buy Now
New Riff Distilling’s Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled is thoughtfully crafted with local wild foraged Kentucky botanicals, capturing the native flavors of the Ohio Valley and reflecting historical Kentucky gin ingredients. Twelve botanicals are distilled right in the pot, including a range of typical European gin ingredients (such as angelica, orris and licorice root, and three kinds of citrus). To these we add two local, hand foraged wild seasonings, including a wild juniper berry and the amazing American Spicebush—both of which are on the Slow Food Ark of Taste—plus a dash of Kentucky’s state flower, goldenrod. At the last, we blend in a bit of our new make rye whiskey spirit, enriching the texture and lengthening the flavor. The gin then rests in dripping fresh New Riff Bourbon barrels for five to seven months, achieving a mellowing note of vanilla oak. New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled makes a fantastic Gin Cocktail with the bitters of your choice. Try it also in a Martinez—basically, a Manhattan made with our gin in the place of whiskey—delicious as the borders between gin and whiskey fade away. Nose: Spicebush and vanilla oak form a tantalizing duo, while wood spices tangle playfully with local juniper. Palate: Subtle oak tannin serves to amplify the dryness from angelica; orange peel is a bit more prominent. Finish: Lovely angelica dryness, continued orange peel. Appearance: This non-chill-filtered gin preserves all the flavor and aroma from our copper pot still. It may cloud slightly when chilled. This is not only natural, it is delicious.
3) New Riff Distilling "Bottled in Bond" Bourbon Whisky
Sale Price $43.99/btl! Buy Now
Made in accordance with America’s 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act, this Kentucky bourbon is comprised of a uniquely high-rye mash bill of 65% Corn (non-GMO), 30% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley. It’s aged a minimum of four years in 53-gallon toasted and charred American oak barrels, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 50% ABV. A full mouthfeel and a concentration of rye spices such as clove, cinnamon, mint, and dark berry lead into a jammy finish with hints of butterscotch and white pepper. Appearance: Extra rich, unfiltered deep amber color. Nose: Butterscotch rounding into fresh oak, with hints of vanilla and rye spice. Taste: Broad, fulsome mouthfeel, leading to a sweeter vanilla accent, before a gathering of rye spices (clove, cinnamon, mint, dark berry) into the finish. Finish: Long, rye-led finish, with brambly red-black fruits amid white pepper and clove.
4) New Riff Distilling "Single Barrel" Bourbon Whisky
Sale Price $49.99/btl! Buy Now
Though made with the same sour mash regimen and high-rye mash bill of 65% Corn (non-GMO), 30% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley as New Riff’s core bourbon, this single barrel selection boasts an individual flavor profile and proof. Non-chill filtered and aged a minimum of four years, expect full and bold flavor with distinctive characteristics that will change with each barrel selected. Bottled at cask strength. Appearance: Extra rich, unfiltered deep amber color. Nose: Butterscotch rounding into fresh oak, with hints of vanilla and rye spice. Taste: Broad, fulsome mouthfeel, leading to a sweeter vanilla accent, before a gathering of rye spices (clove, cinnamon, mint, dark berry) into the finish. Finish: Long, rye-led finish, with brambly red-black fruits amid white pepper and clove.
5) New Riff Distilling "Bottled in Bond" Rye Whisky
Sale Price $47.99/btl! Buy Now
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. 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.
6) New Riff Distilling "Single Barrel" Rye Whisky
Sale Price $57.99/btl! Buy Now
New Riff Distilling's Single Barrel Rye expression is a full bodied whiskey offering vibrant, spicy character. Bottled at Barrel Proof Without Chill Filtration, and featuring a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye, this 100% rye whiskey represents a new riff on one of the most influential of modern whiskey traditions. Aged four years in 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, there are no shortcuts taken in our 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. At New Riff, single barrel expressions are a way of life. As former Kentucky liquor retailers, we are intimately familiar with some of Kentucky's most famed single barrel Bourbon selections ever, and we bring that experience to New Riff. Each New Riff single barrel has been tasted and approved by our production panel. You may sample a New Riff Single Barrel knowing it was fully vetted for quality and character. Limited Availability. While each Single Barrel owns its specific flavor profile, New Riff Rye generally shows quite intense and focused spicy flavors. This is not a light, delicate, simple whiskey—we have crafted for robust and fulsome flavor from start to finish. Our unfiltered bottling regimen allows all the character of the barrel to shine through in the glass. Appearance: Extra rich, unfiltered deep amber color. Nose: Well balanced between nougat confection and rye-derived spices such as black pepper, clove, grains of paradise and pink peppercorns. Taste: Broad, fulsome mouthfeel, a sweet-spicy-savory interplay developing into floral rose and red fruit notes. Finish: Fine length and detail, showing potent rye spices which last and last. |
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