Review #: 596
Description: New Riff Single Malt
Spirit: American Single Malt
Background: Rounding up this little series with something completely different from New Riff. Not only is this their first single malt, it’s actually comprised of 5 different single malt mashbills in six different casks to make this blend. Marris Otter, Golden Promise, a Barleywine style, a belgian quad style, and peated Scottish barley, aged in new charred, used decharred and toasted, used decharred and recharred, red wine, Portuguese brandy, and Oloroso sherry. So quite a lot going on with this blend but nothing less that I would expect from New Riff. This is the Fall 2023 release (indicating more will come out). It is coded 23.05.11.06. This corresponds to the year (23), the mashbills (5), the number of barley types (11), and number of cask types (6). So likely these could change with future releases.
Distillery – New Riff
Bottler – New Riff
Brand – New Riff
Selection – N/A
ABV – 56.9%
Age – 7 Years
Nose – Maple Syrup, grilled pineapple, there is a familiar bourbon-y note that I am pretty sure is coming from the new and decharred oak components, ripe apple
Taste – Cooked red apple, rich coffee, candied orange, gingerbread, vanilla buttercream
Finish – Malt, tobacco, oak char, they slightest hint of some campfire smoke, stewed cherries and orange
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? Yes
Thoughts: Really enjoyable. You can definitely tell the different components of the blend but they work well together. There are clearly some bourbon-esque notes, but still a lot of the malt and wine cask influence come through. Really hope they continue to build off of this as I want to see how this can develop.