Review #: 586
Description: New Riff Balboa Rye
Spirit: Rye
Background: This was one of the first special releases from New Riff, but has since turned into a more consistent release. It uses Balboa rye grown in Indiana. They claim that it is an heirloom grain that used to be used for whiskies in the 1940s. It is made from 95% of that balboa rye and 5% malted rye, bottled-in-bond, and 4 years old.
Distillery – New Riff
Bottler – New Riff
Brand – New Riff
Selection – N/A
ABV – 50%
Age – 4 Years
Nose – Cinnamon, brownie batter, sweet fruit, fruit gummies, rye is strong but doesn’t come across as youthful and mixes well with oak
Taste – Fruit punch, vanilla buttercream frosting, sugar cookie, little bit of the spice starts to sneak in but still stays sweet
Finish – Lots of prickly rye and cinnamon spice along with some dark caramel, gingersnap cookie
Score: 6
Would I buy a bottle? Yes
Thoughts: This has gotta be one of the fruitiest ryes I’ve ever had. Bright and sweet, but then the rye spice is there and offers great balance. Has a much better mouthfeel than the turkey wheat. Really tasty and fun to have something different at a very reasonable price point.