New Riff Bourbon Review (Bottled in Bond)

Welcome to the Columbus Bourbon review for New Riff Bourbon (Bottle in Bond). This is my first time trying anything from New Riff so excited to give it a review. 

Let's get started with the basics.

Manufacturer: New Riff Distilling

Age: At least four years

Location Produced: Newport, KY

Mash Bill: 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley

Tasting notes (from manufacturer):

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.

 

Proof/Alcohol: 100 (50% alcohol by volume)

Cost (Ohio): $39.99 + Tax

Let's start the review. 

Taste - Score 26 out of 35

The nose was sweet and sugary with a hint of banana and brown sugar. On the taste, there was brown sugar, stone, backing spices and was a bit tart. 

Smoothness/Finish - Score 18 out of 25

The finish was medium and well balanced.

Intangibles: Color/Appearance - Score 12.5 out of 15

The bottle is very sharp and the color is nice in the glass. My only complaint about the bottle is that it's really tall and may not fit in all liquor cabinets. I do like the etching and the frosted class. The color of the bourbon is in line with what I would expect. A nice dark amber color. 

Availability - Score 4.5 out of 5

This product is fairly easy to track down. As seen on the maps below, most stores are well stocked with the New Riff Bourbon. There are a few that are sold out, but not many. 

Columbus Availability (1/3/23)

Toledo Availability (1/3/23)

Dayton Availability (1/3/23)

Overall Value - Score 14 out of 20

The $39.99 question... should you buy this if you find it? This is a solid bourbon from one of the newer distilleries (established in 2014). This is my first time trying New Riff and I wasn't disappointed. The taste was a bit tart, but it was still an enjoyable bottle. This is a great bourbon to bring to a party or gathering and would look great displayed on a bar. I'm looking forward to trying additional products from New Riff in the future. 

Final Score: 75 out of 100 - Solid

What do you think? Let me know in the comments. 

Note: This review was done by Mark with help from Jonny and The Duchess. The bottle was bought in Ohio at retail price.