New Riff 8 Year Bourbon

New Riff 8 Year Bourbon is a 100-proof (50% ABV) Kentucky bourbon in a 750ml bottle, aged a minimum of eight years in toasted and charred new American oak. Built on an uncommonly high-rye mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, this release represents what Breaking Bourbon called "an excellent showcase of how craft bourbon is coming of age."

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Newport, Kentucky, USA  |  8-Year Age Statement  |  Distillery: New Riff Distilling Co.

Production & Heritage

New Riff Distilling Co. was founded in Newport, Kentucky, directly across the river from Cincinnati — a region with deep pre-Prohibition distilling roots. The bourbon is produced using the full sour mash Kentucky regimen and aged in 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels. This particular release blends bourbon from two separate distilling seasons, each aged a minimum of eight years. That multi-season blending technically disqualifies it from bottled-in-bond designation despite meeting all other requirements. New Riff bottles without chill filtration, preserving the full range of texture and flavor compounds developed during aging. The 30% rye in the mashbill is significantly higher than the 10–25% found in most bourbons, pushing the spice character well beyond typical profiles.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dark cherry cordials and caramel chews lead the nose, followed by vanilla, nutty cocoa, and a layer of seasoned oak. A subtle orange zest brightness lifts the heavier confectionary notes.

Taste: The entry is rich with cooked, syrupy dark fruit — black cherry and baked apple — swirled with chocolate ganache and brown sugar. At mid-palate, cinnamon and milk chocolate emerge alongside a pronounced rye spice that keeps the sweetness in check. The oak influence reads as mature but restrained, adding leather and brown butter without overwhelming the fruit.

Finish: The finish is long and gently drying, with soft leathery oak, lingering cherry, and tart orange peel. Rye spice continues to pulse through the fade, leaving a warm, spiced cocoa impression.

How to Drink New Riff 8 Year

At 100 proof and non-chill filtered, this bourbon rewards neat pours in a Glencairn or rocks glass. A few drops of water open up the chocolate and fruit notes without collapsing the structure. On a single large ice cube, the texture becomes silky and the cherry-forward character intensifies as it slowly dilutes.

• Old Fashioned: The high-rye spice and dark fruit stand up beautifully to bitters and sugar, producing a layered, complex cocktail.
• Manhattan: Cherry and chocolate notes in the bourbon harmonize naturally with sweet vermouth, while the rye backbone keeps the drink from turning cloying.
• Boulevardier: The bourbon's bold proof and baking-spice character cut through Campari's bitterness, creating a well-balanced aperitif.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring high-quality craft distillery releases
• Gifting a whiskey collector who values age-stated, non-chill-filtered bottles
• Side-by-side tastings comparing high-rye versus traditional bourbon mashbills
• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or a cigar

Frequently Asked Questions

What does New Riff 8 Year taste like? It leads with rich dark cherry and chocolate ganache, layered with brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. A prominent rye spice runs throughout, balanced by mature oak, leather, and a gently tart orange-peel brightness.

How does New Riff 8 Year compare to Four Roses Single Barrel? Both are 100-proof Kentucky bourbons with higher-than-average rye content and similar age profiles, and reviewers have noted the two share a comparable flavor architecture. New Riff 8 Year leans darker and more fruit-forward with its chocolate and cherry intensity, while Four Roses Single Barrel tends toward a more floral and honey-driven character depending on its recipe selection.

Is New Riff 8 Year good for sipping neat? Yes — its 100 proof delivers full flavor without excessive heat, and the non-chill-filtered bottling preserves a rich, oily texture that makes it an excellent neat pour. A few drops of water can further open the aromatic complexity.

Where is New Riff 8 Year made? New Riff 8 Year Bourbon is distilled and aged at New Riff Distilling Co. in Newport, Kentucky, situated in the northern Kentucky region just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.

What foods pair well with New Riff 8 Year? Dark chocolate truffles complement the bourbon's cocoa and cherry notes. Smoked brisket or pulled pork echo its caramel and oak character. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness with savory tang. Pecan pie mirrors the nutty, brown-sugar profile. Cherry clafoutis or a chocolate torte extend the fruit-and-chocolate thread on the palate.

What sizes does New Riff 8 Year come in? New Riff 8 Year Bourbon is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is New Riff 8 Year worth the price? New Riff 8 Year positions as a premium craft bourbon with an eight-year age statement, non-chill filtration, and 100-proof bottling — features that many larger producers reserve for limited or single-barrel releases. Within its price tier, the combination of age, proof, and production transparency represents strong value for serious bourbon drinkers.

Why New Riff 8 Year?

What sets this bourbon apart starts with its unusually high 30% rye mashbill, which delivers a spice complexity most standard bourbons simply cannot match. The full eight years in toasted and charred oak — a meaningful age statement in an era of NAS releases — bring genuine maturity: seasoned wood tannins, developed leather, and layered fruit that only time can produce. Blending across two distilling seasons gives the distillers a wider palette of barrel profiles to work with, resulting in a more complete final product. For drinkers who want to understand what the best American craft distilleries are capable of at full maturity, this bottle makes a compelling case.