New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon 750ML

New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon 750ML is a 100-proof (50% ABV), non-chill filtered Kentucky straight bourbon in a 750ml bottle from New Riff Distilling. Named World's Best Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards, this expression has become a benchmark for what a modern Bottled-in-Bond bourbon can achieve at its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Newport, Kentucky, USA  |  Bottled in Bond (Minimum 4 Years)  |  Distillery: New Riff Distilling

Production & Heritage

New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati in the heart of Northern Kentucky's bourbon country. The distillery uses a sour mash process with a high-rye mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley — giving the bourbon a spicier backbone than many competitors. As a Bottled-in-Bond product under the standards of the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Act, every batch is the product of a single distilling season, a single distillery, and a minimum of four years aging in a federally bonded warehouse at exactly 100 proof. New Riff further distinguishes this expression by skipping chill filtration entirely, preserving the full body and flavor complexity that the aging process develops.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Butterscotch and fresh oak lead the nose, gradually opening into vanilla, caramel, and a dusting of rye spice. Orange peel and a faint grassy note add dimension beneath the sweeter top notes.

Taste: The entry is broad and fulsome, with generous caramel and cherry arriving first. A vanilla sweetness builds across the mid-palate before yielding to a wave of rye-driven spice — clove, cinnamon, a flash of mint, and dark berry. The 30% rye mashbill asserts itself clearly here, creating a layered interplay between sweet and spicy that few bourbons in this range match.

Finish: Long and rye-led, with brambly red-black fruit lingering alongside white pepper and clove. The absence of chill filtration keeps the texture rich and slightly oily through the final moments.

How to Drink New Riff BiB

At 100 proof, New Riff BiB drinks confidently neat but also responds well to a few drops of water, which coax out the orange and cherry notes lurking beneath the spice. On the rocks, it holds its structure without thinning. For cocktails, its high-rye profile makes it exceptionally versatile:

• Old Fashioned: The caramel-and-cherry core melds naturally with bitters and orange, requiring minimal sweetener.
• Manhattan: That rye-forward spice stands up to sweet vermouth rather than getting buried beneath it.
• Boulevardier: The full-bodied mouthfeel and dark fruit character balance Campari's bitterness with authority.

Best For

• Bourbon drinkers exploring non-chill filtered expressions for the first time
• Gifting a whiskey enthusiast who values transparency and craft over brand heritage
• Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-ready 100-proof bourbon
• Side-by-side tastings comparing modern craft distillers to legacy Kentucky producers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does New Riff BiB taste like? New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon leads with rich caramel and cherry sweetness before a pronounced wave of rye spice — clove, cinnamon, mint, and dark berry — takes over. The finish is long and peppery with lingering brambly fruit.

How does New Riff BiB compare to Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond? Both are Kentucky Bottled-in-Bond bourbons at 100 proof, but New Riff's 30% rye mashbill creates a notably spicier, more fruit-forward profile than Old Forester 1897's lower-rye grain bill. New Riff also skips chill filtration, resulting in a thicker mouthfeel and more pronounced oak-derived flavors.

Is New Riff BiB good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the 100-proof strength delivers intensity without harshness, and the non-chill filtered bottling preserves a full, oily texture that rewards slow, undiluted sipping. A splash of water opens additional orange and vanilla notes for those who prefer a gentler proof.

Where is New Riff BiB made? New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon is distilled and aged at New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky, located in the Northern Kentucky region directly across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio.

What foods pair well with New Riff BiB? Smoked brisket or pulled pork, where the bourbon's rye spice complements charred, fatty meat. Dark chocolate truffles highlight the cherry and clove notes. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the caramel sweetness. Pecan pie echoes the butterscotch and toasted oak. Charcuterie boards with spiced salami play off the white pepper finish.

What sizes does New Riff BiB come in? New Riff Bottled in Bond Bourbon is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is New Riff BiB worth the price? New Riff BiB positions as a premium craft bourbon that consistently competes with — and often outperforms — legacy labels costing significantly more, especially given its World's Best Bourbon recognition at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. Its combination of Bottled-in-Bond standards and non-chill filtration represents strong value in the category.

Why New Riff BiB?

New Riff Distilling staked its reputation on a bold declaration: Bottled in Bond, non-chill filtered, with full transparency about mashbill and process — from day one. Winning World's Best Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards validated that approach on the global stage, putting a distillery barely a decade old alongside Kentucky's most storied names. The 30% rye mashbill gives this bourbon a spice-driven personality that separates it from the sweeter, corn-heavy profiles dominating the Bottled-in-Bond category. For drinkers who want proof that craft bourbon can meet and exceed the standards of legacy producers, this bottle makes the argument decisively.