New Riff Yellow Leaming Bourbon 750ML

New Riff Yellow Leaming Bourbon 750ML is a bottled-in-bond Kentucky bourbon made with heirloom Yellow Leaming corn, bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV) in a 750ml format. This single-grain-variant release earned an 8.1 overall score from American Whiskey Magazine and stands apart from standard bourbons through its use of a Native American corn variety dating back to 1824.

Quick Facts: ABV: 50% (100 Proof)  |  Origin: Newport, Kentucky, USA  |  Age: 5 Years  |  Distillery: New Riff Distilling  |  Bottled in Bond, Non-Chill Filtered

Production & Heritage

New Riff Distilling, founded in 2014 in Newport, Kentucky, built its reputation on transparency and uncompromising production standards — every bourbon they release is bottled in bond and non-chill filtered. The Yellow Leaming expression uses a mashbill of 65% Yellow Leaming corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, then ages for five years in new charred oak barrels. The Yellow Leaming corn itself is an heirloom variety with roots tracing to 1824, sourced and grown by New Riff's farming partner Charles Fogg in Greensburg, Indiana — a deliberate choice that foregrounds terroir and agricultural heritage in a way most bourbon producers rarely attempt.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Maple leads exuberantly on the nose, followed by layers of caramel and generous vanilla. Behind those initial waves come overripe stone fruit and sweet cornbread, creating a warm, inviting opening.

Taste: The entry is immediately peachy and lush, with apricot and dark fruit syrup coating the palate. The mid-palate transitions to brown sugar, maple, and a distinctive honeyed peanut butter quality that carries real depth. Rye spice, baking spice, and a cola-like warmth build steadily toward the peak, balanced by plum sweetness and wet oak undertones.

Finish: Long and slightly hot, with the nuttiness from the mid-palate enduring through the close. Lingering sweetness, clove, and a trace of caramel slowly fade, leaving a satisfying warmth.

How to Drink Yellow Leaming Bourbon

At 100 proof and non-chill filtered, this bourbon rewards neat sipping in a Glencairn or rocks glass — a few drops of water open up the stone fruit and maple layers without diminishing the texture. It also holds its own in cocktails:

• Old Fashioned: The natural maple sweetness and baking spice complement bitters beautifully, reducing the need for added sugar.
• Bourbon Sour: The peachy, apricot-forward palate plays exceptionally well against fresh citrus.
• Manhattan: The 30% rye component and cola-spice notes give this bourbon enough backbone to stand up to sweet vermouth.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring heirloom grain and terroir-driven expressions
• Gifting a whiskey collector who values unique mashbill stories
• Side-by-side tastings comparing corn varieties and their flavor impact
• After-dinner sipping alongside rich desserts or aged cheeses

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Yellow Leaming Bourbon taste like? It leads with exuberant maple, ripe peach, and apricot, then develops honeyed peanut butter, brown sugar, and baking spice through the mid-palate. The finish is long with lingering nuttiness and sweetness.

How does Yellow Leaming Bourbon compare to New Riff Blue Clarage Bourbon? Both are heirloom corn expressions from New Riff using similar production methods, but Yellow Leaming tends toward stone fruit sweetness and pronounced maple, while Blue Clarage — made with a different heritage corn variety — presents a distinct grain character of its own. Tasting them side by side highlights how corn variety directly shapes bourbon flavor.

Is Yellow Leaming Bourbon good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the bottled-in-bond 100-proof strength and non-chill filtration deliver a full-bodied texture with complex layers of fruit, nut, and spice that unfold gradually when sipped neat or with a splash of water.

Where is Yellow Leaming Bourbon made? It is distilled and bottled at New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky, directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The Yellow Leaming corn is grown by farming partner Charles Fogg in Greensburg, Indiana.

What foods pair well with Yellow Leaming Bourbon? Pecan pie complements the nuttiness and maple character. Smoked pork belly matches the caramel and brown sugar notes. Sharp aged cheddar contrasts the sweetness. Stone fruit cobbler echoes the peach and apricot flavors. Dark chocolate with sea salt plays against the bourbon's baking spice and lingering warmth.

What sizes does Yellow Leaming Bourbon come in? The standard release is available in 750ml bottles.

Is Yellow Leaming Bourbon worth the price? It positions as a premium, limited-release bourbon that justifies its price through a genuinely unique mashbill, five years of aging, bottled-in-bond designation, and non-chill filtration — placing it above standard offerings but within reach for serious bourbon drinkers seeking something distinctive.

Why Yellow Leaming Bourbon?

In a bourbon market saturated with similar mashbills and marketing language, New Riff's Yellow Leaming release makes a concrete, verifiable argument for terroir in American whiskey. The use of an heirloom corn variety dating to 1824, grown by a named farming partner, gives drinkers a direct line between agriculture and flavor that few distilleries provide. Bottled in bond at 100 proof with no chill filtration, it arrives unmanipulated and at full strength — a transparency commitment New Riff applies across its entire lineup. The result is a five-year bourbon with genuine character: stone fruit sweetness, deep nuttiness, and a spice backbone that reflects both its 30% rye content and the distinct personality of Yellow Leaming corn.