New Riff Aged 8 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml

New Riff 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the oldest bourbon ever released by the acclaimed Newport, Kentucky craft distillery and represents a milestone moment for the brand: the "first fruit" of the whiskeys carefully set back for long term aging since New Riff's founding in 2014. Launched in March 2024 as a permanent extension of the core lineup, this expression doubles the age statement of the flagship Bottled in Bond Bourbon while keeping the same award winning high rye mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. The whiskey is aged a minimum of 8 years in full size 53 gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, distilled using the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen, and bottled at 100 proof without chill filtration. While the standard 4 year flagship is bottled in bond, this 8 year carries a different designation: to dip into the distillery's oldest set back barrels, New Riff drew from two distilling seasons, which technically disqualifies the bottle from the Bottled in Bond label (which requires a single distilling season), even though it meets every other BiB standard. The extra years bring greater depth and complexity to the savory, rye driven foundation: deeper caramel, antique leather, rickhouse funk, mature oak, brambly red fruit, and clove spice, all wrapped in a mellow buttery finish that hints at how well aged New Riff bourbon can become. A serious bourbon at a reasonable craft price.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Rusty gold with deep amber highlights.

Nose: Vanilla custard, caramel, apricot, peach, charred oak, bubble gum, chocolate dipped cherry cordials, nutty cocoa, mature oak, antique leather, and a hint of rickhouse funk that recalls Kentucky stalwarts.

Palate: Caramel, raspberry, blackberry, aged oak, sweet and fruity with a broad fulsome mouthfeel. Vanilla and rye spice (clove, cinnamon, mint, dark berry) develop through the mid palate with greater depth than the 4 year flagship.

Finish: Long, rye led, and warming with brambly red and black fruits, brown sugar, leather, black cherry, cinnamon, lingering seasoned oak, and a mellow buttery close that is oaky but not at all tannic or drying.

FAQ

Why is this New Riff's oldest bourbon? New Riff Distilling opened in 2014, so 2024 marked the 10 year anniversary and the first opportunity to release a fully aged 8 year statement bourbon entirely from the distillery's own stock. Co founder Jay Erisman called it the "first fruit" of barrels carefully set back for long term aging from the very beginning. The release date, March 8, 2024 (8 year age, 8th day of the month), was a deliberate nod to the milestone.

How is this different from the flagship 4 Year Bottled in Bond? Same mashbill (65% corn / 30% rye / 5% malted barley), same distillery, same fermentation, same non chill filtered 100 proof bottling. The 8 Year doubles the age, adding four extra years of barrel influence: deeper caramel and oak, more developed secondary and tertiary flavors, mellower texture, and the antique leather, rickhouse funk, and brambly fruit that come with extended Kentucky aging.

Why isn't this Bottled in Bond? To access the distillery's oldest set back barrels, New Riff blended whiskey from two different distilling seasons (separated by roughly 6 months). Bottled in Bond designation requires whiskey produced in a single distilling season, so this 8 Year technically doesn't qualify, even though it meets every other BiB standard (single distillery, well over 4 years aged, exactly 100 proof, federally bonded warehouse). It is, in the distillery's words, "bottled in bond in all but name."

What is the "high rye" mashbill? At 30% rye, New Riff's mashbill is genuinely high rye for a Kentucky bourbon (most bourbons sit closer to 10 to 15% rye). This higher rye content drives the savory, spicy, peppery character that defines the New Riff house style. The 8 year aging tempers the spice while keeping the rye signature front and center.

How should I drink it? Excellent neat to fully appreciate the depth and oak development of the extended aging, or with a single large ice cube to slowly open the aromatics. The 100 proof gives it body and presence without being overwhelming, and the non chill filtration preserves the rich texture. Also makes a serious Old Fashioned or Manhattan where the additional age adds genuine complexity.

Where can I buy New Riff 8 Year Bourbon online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.