Review #372 - New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'The Great Debate'

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 4 of 20

Our next single barrel pick from the Wiseguy Lounge comes from New Riff distillery, out of Newport, Kentucky. This takes the form of their standardized 4 year old single barrel bourbon - this was barrel number 14-490, which the bar named 'The Great Debate.' It comes with a pleasant strength of 55.8% ABV (111.6 proof), which falls in the middle of the normal range for New Riff single barrels.

This bottle is actually interesting in another way, too - this is from New Riff's inaugural year of operations, 2014, so it's some of the earliest distillate they ever created. It had the same length of aging as their modern bourbons - 4 years - and was bottled in 2018. How will those early spirit runs compare to the bourbons that they currently make?

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'The Great Debate'

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 55 (2024, equivalent product)

Age Statement: 4 Years

Strength: 55.8% ABV

Details: Not chill filtered, barrel no. 14-940; distilled November 10, 2014; bottled November 13, 2018

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 90% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Lots of baking notes: brown sugar, nutmeg, cardamom, and clove. Vanilla and powdered sugar notes add more sweetness, and then there's a bit of light, dry oak... fresh leather, too. Hints of grain mingle with the baking notes, and in the background, there's a soft Bing cherry scent.

Palate: Somewhat rich, with a mix of sweet and drying flavors. Syrupy and boozy Luxardo cherry, some anise prickle, a little bit of ethanol pops through as well - it's oaky, but still a bit young, too. Spice builds, adding black pepper and nutmeg, and the oak takes on a slightly bitter taste. The mouthfeel is medium-thick.

Finish: Medium length, and the oak notes are a bit more prominent now. There are hints of maple syrup adding a sweetness, but the oak is dry, and the fruity side has become more sharp and acidic - unripe cherries.

Final Note: A nice single barrel, just a bit young and sharp, too. It was interesting to find some cherry notes in this New Riff bottle - we generally associate their bourbons with heavy baking spice flavors, but that tickle of fruit can be found from time to time, especially as their products get older.

Value is above average or good - New Riff and their retail partners always ensure fair prices on these whiskies. This specific single barrel won't be available any longer, but as a general recommendation, we suggest you try a New Riff single barrel bourbon.

Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.99

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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Review #371 - Four Roses 9 Year OESK Single Barrel Barrel Strength - Wiseguy Lounge Pick