I got none of the peat notes that I love in scotch, but just a heavy sour and acidic flavor throughout. The finish to me should make me want to have another sip, but this was downright gross.
The end result is a bourbon that tastes like it was barrel-aged in a used scotch barrel like High West Campfire was. It noses like a scotch yet has a distinctly bourbon palate. It’s great to see New Riff experimenting and innovating on what it means to be a bourbon.
Towards the back is where the smoke really kicks in, with ashy campfire embers and asphalt. The finish is short, with cedar wood, grass and black pepper.
This particular backset is from a mash of peated malted barley, and the result is an earthy whiskey with spiced accents that meld with sweeter flavors of candied grapes and dark fruits. The finish is long, smooth, and rich, with back notes of spice and cracked pepper.
The taste is spicy with clove, cinnamon, caramel, roasted almonds, and the smokiness comes alive as the spices start to fade into a long, smoky finish with lingering spices. Very nice!
The generous finish turns more classic with baking spice and butterscotch notes, but a touch of salty smoke lingers. Unique for sure and surprisingly enjoyable.
Honestly an interesting, unique and fairly well executed experiment that further demonstrates the complexity that experimentation can bring when done right. This balances smoke, citrus and oak very well.
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House Review
Nose:
Sweet on the nose, but gentle and deceptive. Sweet cream, caramel, a bit of orange zest and some white pepper.
Taste:
Rich on the palate, with some smoked notes coming through. Creamy orange, pepper, a bit of oak and earth. The smoke character is pretty mild, which is probably for the best.
Finish:
Dry, ashy finish with a bit of bbq smoke, a bit of oak and some lovely pepper.
Overall:
Honestly an interesting, unique and fairly well executed experiment that further demonstrates the complexity that experimentation can bring when done right. This balances smoke, citrus and oak very well.
Score:
85
By t8ke
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
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