New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon
New Riff Distilling · New Riff Distillery, Newport, Kentucky
New Riff’s single barrel program is the purest expression of what happens when a distillery uses transparency as its catalyst. By committing to Bottled-in-Bond from barrel one — no blending, no filtration, no dilution — they stripped away every safety net and bet on the quality of their distillate. The high-rye mash bill delivers assertive spice and complexity that barrel proof amplifies rather than masks. Every barrel is different, and that is precisely the point: you are tasting the unedited conversation between grain, yeast, wood, and time. At under fifty-five dollars for barrel-proof single barrel bourbon of this quality, New Riff does not just compete with Kentucky’s legacy houses — it challenges them to explain why they ever reached for the blending tank.
Nose
Caramel and toasted oak lead, followed by dark cherry, baking spices, and a bright rye-driven pepperiness. Underneath, butterscotch and a hint of charred wood.
Palate
Full-bodied and boldly structured. Rich caramel and vanilla coat the tongue, giving way to cinnamon-spiced rye grain, toasted pecan, and dark fruit. The high rye asserts itself with a vibrant, almost electric spice.
Finish
Long and warming. Charred oak, leather, and lingering butterscotch fade slowly alongside a dry, peppery rye spice that builds rather than retreats.
- Mash Bill
- 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — "The Newport Old Fashioned": Muddle one sugar cube with three dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water. Add 2 oz New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon and stir with a large ice cube for 30 seconds. Express an orange peel over the glass and drop it in. The barrel proof stands up beautifully to dilution, opening layers of caramel and spice as the ice slowly melts.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Slow-smoked pork belly with a brown sugar and black pepper glaze. The bourbon’s caramel sweetness mirrors the glaze while its rye spice cuts through the richness of the pork fat.
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