In a statement about the releases, “the whiskey man” and co-founder of New Riff Jay Erisman says, “These two releases are a celebration of the ancient tradition of malted grains that are united by their six years in the warehouse and by their shared embrace of the glory of malt.” New Riff often distills German malted rye, and so this new American varietal was a departure from their norm.
The aging process was interesting for Erisman, as he noticed distinctly different characteristics from their standard malted rye. In his observation, he noted a spicier whiskey, but my tasting notes strayed a bit from this. Without having past expressions to compare this one to, I found the whiskey to be sweeter, with a texture that coats the palate and has a faintly chemical savor.
New Riff 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.
Tasting Notes: New Riff Aroostook Malted Rye Whiskey
Vital Stats: Bottled at 100-Proof (50% ABV). Mashbill of 100% Aroostook Kentucky-grown malted rye. Aged six years and available in limited quantities. SRP $59.99.
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Appearance: Light straw color with long legs.
Nose: Overripe fruit, specifically banana, with the aroma of vanilla and char, mixed with saltwater taffy notes.
Palate: I keep emphasizing the chemical, cast iron notes, as they exist both in the nose and the palate. The whiskey is aromatic on the tongue, mixing well with the nose, and I enjoyed the taste of chocolate and malt ball, like the Whoppers candy. The balance comes with the nice spicy elements that live in the finish.
