Bourbon

New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Bourbon

$59.99

OVERALL
RATING

Whiskey Review: New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Bourbon

by Jerry Jenae Sampson
March 1, 2023

Tasting Notes:

About:

Bottled at 100-Proof (50% ABV). Mashbill of 65% corn, 20% malted rye, and 15% T50 Crystal Malt. Aged six years, bottled-in-bond and non-chill filtered. SRP $59.99.

Appearance:

Clear amber in color.

Nose:

Elements of overripe plum, plastic, and peppercorn stand out. Rye spice is there on the nose, but very subtle.

Palate:

More impactful than the nose, the palate offers vegetal notes, an even heat, with sugarcane and cola standing out. . It is a fine whiskey, but less impactful than the Aroostook. I tried to find the ways in which the T50 Crystal Malt contributed but couldnt say with confidence that I noticed the difference. Sending User Review 0 (0 votes) Share: XFacebookLinkedInEmail Drinks Aizome Island Tropical Style Minor Cobbler Strawberry Rhubarb Julep Crimson & Clover Club Wynken, Blynken, & Nog Related Articles Whiskey Review: Highline Triple Rye Whiskey Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline Triple Rye Whiskey American / Reviews Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke American Whiskey Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke American Whiskey American / Reviews Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.3 Editors Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.3 Reviews / Scotch Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old Editors Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh 12 Years Old Reviews / Scotch Whiskey Review: Highline American Whiskey Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline American Whiskey American / Reviews Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Rye Whiskey Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Rye Whiskey American / Reviews Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 Editors Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 Reviews / Scotch Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh Sandend Editors Note: This whisky was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whisky Review: Glenglassaugh Sandend Reviews / Scotch Whiskey Review: Highline Straight Kentucky Whiskey Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Highline Straight Kentucky Whiskey American / Reviews Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Bourbon Editors Note: This whiskey was… READ ARTICLE ? about Whiskey Review: Savage & Cooke Bourbon Bourbon / Reviews Jerry Jenae Sampson Jerry Sampson is a freelance writer, editor and screenwriter. Her creative work is ever improved by her love of whiskey and craft cocktails. She enjoys taking cool fall days to explore the great distilleries around Portland to get a closer look at the inner workings of her favorite spirits. More by Jerry Jenae Sampson Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Connect with on on LinkedIn About Advertise Subscribe Editorial Standards Privacy Policy Terms of Use

Finish:

Comments:

Compared to the New Riff Aroostook Malted Rye included in this limited release, this whiskey has a milder nose, and I had a bit of trouble picking out a great deal on the palate. It is a fine whiskey, but less impactful than the Aroostook. I tried to find the ways in which the T50 Crystal Malt contributed but couldnt say with confidence that I noticed the difference.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.

One of two limited edition fall 2022 releases from New Riff Distilling, Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a mash bill of 65% corn, 20% malted rye, and 15% T50 Crystal Malt. Head Distiller Brian Sprance has a history in brewing, and used this experience to embrace the goal of highlighting T50 Crystal Malt, a roasted crystal malted barley that is most often used in pale ales and bitters.

Crystal malts can add sweetness and color to the whiskey, and while adding this malt can result in a cloying sweet flavor, the New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt maintains a nice balance of heat and sweet, while not as appealing overall as the New Riff Aroostook Malted Rye, the other of the two releases, the whiskey is still an impressive sip.

In a statement about this particular release, “the whiskey man” and co-founder of New Riff Jay Erisman says, “The secret to Maltster T50 is that two exceptional malts are at play.” The combination of the T50 and the malted rye develops into a high-rye bourbon, which may appeal to a drinker who wants to explore more than the typical classic bourbon recipe. The whiskey is, as all New Riff expressions, bottled-in-bond and without chill filtration.

New Riff Distilling is located in Northern Kentucky, right at the door to bourbon country, and is at the forefront of developing new and different expressions of malted whiskey. The distillery is a single-family owned, independent distilling company founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis.

The company takes pride in the ability to act freely from the observations of shareholders or investors and use their family-oriented culture to offer well thought out whiskey releases, as well as the ever-appreciated non-chill filtered and bottled-in-bond options.

New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Bourbon review — We review New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Bourbon, bottled at 100 proof and distilled from, among other things, a roasted crystal malted barley that is most often used in pale ales and bitters. (image via New Riff)

Tasting Notes: New Riff Maltster T50 Crystal Malt Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Vital Stats: Bottled at 100-Proof (50% ABV). Mashbill of 65% corn, 20% malted rye, and 15% T50 Crystal Malt. Aged six years, bottled-in-bond and non-chill filtered. SRP $59.99.

Appearance: Clear amber in color.