New Riff Announces Non-Chill Filtered Single Barrel Rye

New Riff Distilling Co. has announced the Spring 2019 release of their Single Barrel Rye.

Rye is a tricky, sticky grain to distill, and can quite literally “gum up the works” in fermenters when cooked. Nevertheless, New Riff uses a 100% rye mashbill for their rye whiskey —- 95% rye and 5% malted rye. The juice in these particular barrels was distilled in the spring of 2015, aged four years, non-chill filtered, and bottled at barrel proof. While we haven’t had a chance to try it yet, that certainly sounds like a recipe that won’t lack for flavor.

Almost a dozen of these over barrels will be released, each with their own tasting notes and distillation dates on the labels.

“Our 100% Rye has shown itself to be rich and spicy, each blend finishing with a sweet note often of brown sugar or toffee.  However, as we have tasted through each one, each barrel’s personality starts to reveal itself. Barrel 14-1202 distilled in December of 2014 has dark fruit on the nose, it is slightly oaky and very spicy with a long dry cinnamon finish. Barrel 15-1949, distilled in February of 2015, is ripe with honeydew melon and white pepper on the nose, juicy, sweet red berries give way to the black pepper and rye spice finish,” said the New Riff team in a press release.

New Riff Single Barrel Rye is hitting shelves in Kentucky this spring, but there’s a way to get your bottles reserved right away. Joining New Riff’s Whiskey Club now will ensure you have the opportunity to purchase two bottles of their Single Barrel Rye, as well as keep you in the loop for future releases. Or, head to the distillery each week this spring to try the barrels at their Aquifer Tasting Bar.

Caroline Paulus
Caroline Paulus is the Senior Editor for The Bourbon Review. She lives and writes in Lexington, Kentucky. Follow her on Instagram @misswhiskeyhistorian to keep up with her latest in bourbon news - and a few old finds, too.