New Riff Malted 6 yr (BIB) Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml

New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a longtime Kentucky liquor retailer, and built in Newport across the river from Cincinnati. The distillery draws water from a mineral-rich aquifer beneath the property, sources non-GMO grains, ferments slowly and openly, and distills exclusively in copper, adhering to bottled-in-bond standards across its lineup. That commitment to traditional methods has earned New Riff a strong reputation among Kentucky's newer sour mash distilleries.

This expression is made from a mash bill of 100 percent malted rye, a rare choice even among craft producers, since malting the grain softens rye's typically sharp spice into something more refined. At six years old, it stands as the oldest whiskey New Riff has released, aged the full term in new charred oak before bottling in bond, without chill filtration, at 100 proof.

The nose offers honey, caramel malt, and graham cracker layered with floral rye spice and hints of plum and brown sugar. On the palate, the whiskey turns plump and full-bodied, with cinnamon and wintergreen woven through baked fruit and a toasty, malty undercurrent. The finish is warm and of medium length, closing on cedar, clove, and a dusting of pink peppercorn that lingers pleasantly.