New Riff 8 Year Bourbon Review
In-Depth Review
Everyone rejoice – as New Riff finally has finally reached the 8-year milestone.
And while they’ve released a few limited expressions that clock in a bit older, this latest 8-year Kentucky bourbon represents the oldest core product from the distillery’s growing lineup. Bottled at their classic 100 proof, this release continues their tradition of non-chill filtration and features a mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. But unlike all of their other core lineup releases, this new 8 year product does not adhere to the legally defined bottled-in-bond criteria. This clearly left a few folks scratching their head because in response, New Riff released this statement on their website:
While New Riff is committed to bottled-in-bond standards, we made the difficult decision to waive that status for this release, focusing on a wider distribution network than previous specialty releases. Despite meeting all other requirements of a bonded whiskey, due to the comparatively small production from the earliest years of New Riff, this release blends bourbons from two distilling seasons aged a minimum of 8 years.
So, despite it not technically being bottled-in-bond, does this latest release from New Riff still capture the magic that has made them a Kentucky darling? Let’s dive in and find out.
Age: 8 Years
ABV: 50%
Cask: New American Oak
MSRP: $69.99
Distillery Name: New Riff Distillery
Review Date: 8/4/26
Color: Deep Caramel
Nose: Rich oak, thick honey, cinnamon toast crunch cereal, hint of chili powder, and BBQ rub. There’s an inviting brightness throughout that accentuates a solidly traditional Kentucky bourbon profile.
Palate: The palate starts with big notes of cherry, spiced caramel, and candied walnuts. As it settles on the tongue, even more sweetness pops in the form of cinnamon coffee cake, fudge, and orange make an appearance. The mouthfeel is solid and is well complemented by a heat that feels perfectly in line with 100 proof.
Finish: Medium length finish that replaces with sweetness from the palate with strong oak, allspice, and baked pastry.
Final Thoughts: New Riff’s 8 Year Bottled-in-Bond bourbon maybe be their deepest, most complex regular release yet. And there’s something incredibly comforting in a well-aged, non-finished, solid Kentucky bourbon. It perfectly scratches that aged bourbon fix, without taking any strange or unusual offramps. The vibrancy of the nose mixed with the dark fudge sweetness on the palate makes for a rewarding pour that perfectly delivers a more mature New Riff profile. While their releases up to this point have shown the bourbon world that age isn’t everything – it’s amazing what a full 8-year age statement can do for excellent distillate.
