New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon revolutionizes craft whiskey with its high-rye profile and commitment to quality traditions. At 100 proof and aged four years without chill filtration, it delivers exceptional flavor complexity that defies its age. With notes of caramel, cherry, and spice balanced with oak undertones, this Kentucky straight bourbon offers remarkable value in the US market despite higher UK pricing. Founded in 2014, New Riff has quickly established itself as a craft distilling success story by honoring bourbon heritage while confidently adding their own distinctive twist.
Quick Review Scorecard
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nose | 8.5/10 | Rich caramel, fruit, and spice with excellent complexity |
| Palate | 8/10 | Well-balanced flavors with notable high-rye character |
| Finish | 8.5/10 | Impressively lengthy for a 4-year bourbon |
| Value | 9/10 | Exceptional quality-to-price ratio in US markets |
| Overall | 8.5/10 | A standout craft bourbon that punches above its weight |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High-rye mash bill delivers distinctive flavor profile
- Non-chill filtered for maximum flavor retention
- Impressive depth and complexity for a 4-year bourbon
- Excellent value in the US market (around $45)
- Consistent quality and transparency in production
Cons:
- Limited international distribution
- Significantly higher price point in UK/EU markets (£85+)
- Standard bottle design lacks distinctiveness on shelf
- May be too spicy for traditional bourbon drinkers
- Some batch variation reported in single barrel offerings
As a bourbon enthusiast who’s sampled hundreds of whiskeys across Kentucky and beyond, I’ve developed a palate that craves both tradition and innovation. When I first encountered New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, I knew I had found something special that deserved attention. Founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer, New Riff has quickly established itself as one of craft distilling’s true success stories.
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon bottle (Source: New Riff Distilling)
Let me walk you through why New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon has become one of my personal favorites and why it deserves a place in your collection.
1. True Bottled-in-Bond Heritage with a Modern Twist
New Riff takes America’s highest quality standard for aged spirits—the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act—and elevates it further. While many distilleries have abandoned this historic designation over the decades, New Riff has made it the signature of all their whiskey, declaring that “the highest quality standard in the world is not high enough for us.”
What does Bottled-in-Bond mean for your drinking experience? It guarantees this bourbon is:
- The product of one distillation season by one distiller at one distillery
- Aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse
- Bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV)
- Unaltered except for filtering and the addition of water to achieve proof
This commitment to transparency and quality control ensures consistency that many craft distilleries struggle to achieve. For a deeper understanding of this important designation, check out Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond for another excellent example from a historic distillery.
2. High-Rye Mash Bill That Delivers Bold Flavor
With a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, New Riff delivers a genuinely high-rye bourbon that offers savory, spicy character with full body. This higher rye content creates a distinctive spice profile that sets it apart from many traditional Kentucky bourbons that typically contain 10-15% rye.
In my tastings, this translates to vibrant flavors that dance between sweet caramel notes and zesty spice, creating an exciting tension that keeps your palate engaged from first sip to final finish. If you’re interested in exploring more about how grain selection impacts whiskey flavor, I recommend reading Grain Selection for Whiskey to deepen your understanding of this crucial aspect of bourbon production.
3. Non-Chill Filtration for Maximum Flavor Retention
Building upon the Bottled-in-Bond standard, New Riff takes their commitment to quality one step further by skipping the chill filtration process common in most commercial bourbons.
Why does this matter? Chill filtration removes certain compounds to prevent cloudiness when the whiskey gets cold, but it also strips away flavor molecules and impacts mouthfeel. By bottling without chill filtration, New Riff ensures you experience every nuance of flavor the bourbon has to offer.
The result is a richer mouthfeel and deeper complexity—I notice this most in the lingering finish, where subtle notes continue to reveal themselves long after swallowing. To learn more about this important production technique and how it affects your whiskey, check out Chill Filtration in Whisky, which explains the process in greater detail.
4. Remarkable Quality for a Young Bourbon
Despite being aged just four years, reviewers consistently note how New Riff Bottled-in-Bond tastes surprisingly rich and developed compared to other similarly aged products, with some suggesting it drinks like a bourbon much closer to 7 years old. As The Whiskey Ramble notes, “I’d probably suspect this was closer to 7 years” based on its fullness and complexity (The Whiskey Ramble).
This impressive maturity likely stems from several factors:
- Thoughtful barrel entry proof (lower than industry standard)
- Careful barrel selection and warehouse management
- Their meticulous “Kentucky Regimen” sour mash process
In my experience, New Riff avoids the harsh grain-forward qualities that plague many young craft bourbons, instead delivering a balanced, well-integrated flavor profile that defies its age statement.
I recently compared it side-by-side with other 4-year Bottled-in-Bond offerings including Evan Williams White Label and Old Fitzgerald, and the difference in complexity was immediately noticeable, with New Riff showing far more depth despite similar age statements.
5. Distinctive Tasting Notes that Create a Complete Package
Every time I pour New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, I’m struck by its consistent and distinctive flavor profile:
Nose: Sweet caramel and cherry with bright orange accents, balanced by prickly rye spice and subtle vanilla. The Whiskey Ramble describes it as having “generous caramel and cherry with some orange accents” and “prickly rye notes” (The Whiskey Ramble).
Palate: A medium mouthfeel that coats well, delivering the full 100 proof without overwhelming. The flavor presents classic bourbon notes of vanilla and caramel, complemented by rye spice leading to oak. The Bourbon Finder notes it “hits the classic bourbon notes of vanilla, caramel, a bit of rye spice leading to oak” (The Bourbon Finder).
Finish: Impressively lengthy, with caramel, orange, spice, and oak lingering pleasantly. The proof doesn’t overwhelm, providing a well-rounded finish that remains sweet until the very end, where satisfying spice emerges.
6. Impressive Value Proposition in Today’s Bourbon Market
Priced around $45 in the US market (though significantly more expensive at £85 in the UK market), New Riff Bottled-in-Bond represents exceptional value for American consumers in today’s inflated bourbon market. Breaking Bourbon’s review confirms this assessment, noting the bourbon is “priced perfectly for what it delivers” (Breaking Bourbon).
When I compare it to other similarly priced options, few deliver the same combination of quality, consistency, and character. For context, here’s how it stacks up against comparable Bottled-in-Bond offerings:
| Bourbon | Price UK | Age Statement | Notable Differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Riff BiB | £85 | 4 years | High-rye, non-chill filtered |
| Old Forester 100 | £35 | NAS | Lower rye content, chill filtered |
| Evan Williams BiB | £47 | NAS | Lower proof, less complexity |
| Early Times BiB | Limited UK availability | 4 years | Limited availability |
| Wilderness Trail BiB | £75-85 | 4+ years | Sweet mash process vs sour mash |
While you might find cheaper bottles with the Bottled-in-Bond designation, I’ve rarely found any that offer this level of refinement at this price point. For more excellent options in this category, explore Best Bourbon Under 100 to discover other great values. UK bourbon enthusiasts should be aware that the significant price premium there (£85 vs equivalents around £35-45) does diminish the value proposition considerably.
7. Craft Distillery Success Story Worth Supporting
Founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis after he sold his liquor store to employees, New Riff was created with the dedication to “simply making high quality whiskey” as its central mission. Unlike many craft distilleries that rushed young products to market, New Riff waited until their whiskey met the Bottled-in-Bond requirements before releasing their own distillate.
This patience and commitment to quality over immediate profit demonstrates an integrity that I believe deserves consumer support. In just a decade, they’ve established themselves as a reference point for how craft distilleries can successfully compete with established players by focusing on quality and transparency.
The Evolution of New Riff
The brand continues to innovate while respecting tradition. In March 2024, they released their first 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which represents the “first fruit” of initial whiskeys set back for further aging. As Jay Erisman, New Riff co-founder, stated: “As much acclaim as we have received from the bourbon community for our 4-year-old, bottled-in-bond and single barrel offerings, we knew the real excitement would come from genuinely older whiskey” (Bourbon Lens).
They also produce highly-regarded single barrel selections, limited releases, and specialty products that experiment with different grain varieties and production techniques. Their innovative products include:
| Product | Description | Special Features |
|---|---|---|
| Standard BiB Bourbon | Core product | 65% corn/30% rye/5% malted barley |
| Single Barrel Bourbon | Store picks | Barrel proof, non-chill filtered |
| Ol’ New Riff BiB | Limited release | Heirloom grains, 6 years aged |
| 8-Year Bourbon | Recent premium release | Longer aging, limited quantities |
| BiB Rye Whiskey | Companion to bourbon | 95% rye/5% malted rye |
| Specialty “Riffs” | Experimental releases | Limited seasonal expressions |
From my perspective, this ongoing evolution makes New Riff not just a distillery producing excellent bourbon now, but one to watch for exciting developments in the future.
Availability and Where to Buy
New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon has expanded distribution in recent years but still isn’t universally available:
United States: Most readily available in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, New York, California, and Illinois. Top retailers include:
United Kingdom: More limited availability through:
Direct from Distillery: New Riff offers pickup at their Newport, Kentucky location for online orders placed through their official website.
My Final Assessment
If you’re seeking a bourbon that bridges tradition and innovation while delivering exceptional quality at a fair price, New Riff Bottled-in-Bond should be on your short list. It offers enough complexity to satisfy experienced bourbon drinkers while remaining approachable for newcomers to the category.
I’ve found it works beautifully neat, with a small splash of water to open up more subtle notes, or in classic cocktails where its robust proof and flavour profile shine through. For cocktail inspiration, check out 10 Easy Whiskey Cocktails for Every Occasion to discover great ways to enjoy this versatile bourbon. Its high proof and rich flavour make it particularly excellent in an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
That said, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Distribution limitations can make finding bottles challenging outside of core markets
- International pricing significantly reduces the value proposition for non-US buyers
- The 100 proof (50% ABV) may be intense for casual whiskey drinkers – if you’re new to higher proof spirits, you might want to explore Best Whiskey for Beginners for more approachable options
Despite these minor drawbacks, New Riff has delivered on their mission statement—to be counted among the world’s great small distilleries—by crafting a bourbon that honors Kentucky’s hallowed whiskey traditions while confidently adding their own distinctive twist. That’s a new riff worth listening to.
Have you tried New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon? I’d love to hear your thoughts and tasting notes in the comments below!
Note: This article was written based on personal experience and research. I purchased all bottles mentioned for personal evaluation without sponsorship. Prices mentioned may vary by location and over time.
Further Reading and Resources:
- New Riff Distilling Official Website
- Breaking Bourbon’s Comprehensive Review
- The Bourbon Finder’s Detailed Tasting Notes
- Understanding Bottled-in-Bond Standards
- The Ultimate Guide to Kentucky Whiskey – Learn more about Kentucky bourbon traditions and distilleries
- How to Taste Whiskey Like a Pro – Perfect your bourbon tasting technique