New Riff Malted Rye Review
New Riff Malted Rye Review
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Quick Facts
New Riff Malted Rye vs. Other Bottled-in-Bond Ryes
How does New Riff Malted Rye compare? Here is New Riff Malted Rye vs. two other 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond ryes buyers cross-shop — the distillery's own standard rye and Heaven Hill's benchmark. For the full New Riff Malted Rye tasting notes, see the nose, palate and finish breakdown above.
| New Riff Malted Rye | New Riff BiB Straight Rye | Rittenhouse Rye BiB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mash bill | 100% malted rye | 95% rye, 5% malted rye | 51% rye, 35% corn, 14% malted barley |
| Proof / ABV | 100 proof / 50% | 100 proof / 50% | 100 proof / 50% |
| Age statement | 6 years | 4 years (min) | 4 years (min) |
| Bottled-in-Bond | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distillery | New Riff (Newport, KY) | New Riff (Newport, KY) | Heaven Hill (Bardstown, KY) |
| Approx. price | $55–$65 | $45–$50 | $25–$30 |
New Riff Malted Rye proof sits at the Bottled-in-Bond standard of 100 (50% ABV), the same strength as its rivals — but its all-malted-rye mash bill and 6-year age push it toward a softer, chewier, more elegant profile than the spicier 95%-rye standard New Riff or the corn-inclusive Rittenhouse. The New Riff Malted Rye price ($55–$65) reflects that step up in age and grain cost.
Is This For Me?
You enjoy complex spice with a chewy, malt-forward character. Single malt fans and adventurous rye lovers will find this captivating.
You prefer lighter, sweeter bourbons or straightforward rye — the 100% malted rye profile is distinctive and not for everyone.
Flavor Profile at a Glance
What It Tastes Like
Nose
Vanilla and oak up front, then pear, a cool thread of mint, cocoa and plum-like dark fruit.
Palate
Caramel and baking spice over a rounded, malty core, with clove and a restrained rye spice.
Finish
Medium-long, with clove, pepper and oak lingering as the spice dries it out.
Best Ways to Enjoy
Neat
Highlights the elegant spice and unique malt complexity.
With Water
A few drops soften the 100-proof edge.
On Ice
Softens the spice for a smoother, more approachable sip.
Cocktail
Excellent Manhattan base — the malty depth adds a unique dimension.
Cocktail Scores
Price & Value
At $55–$65, New Riff Malted Rye is a genuine steal for what it delivers. Very few distilleries in America produce a 100% malted rye, and the 6-year age statement with Bottled-in-Bond designation and non-chill filtration puts it in premium territory. The elegant, refined character stands apart from typical rye whiskeys. Several independent reviewers single out its value at this price.
Bottle Transparency
- DistillerNew Riff Distilling, Newport, KY
- Mashbill100% malted rye
- Age6 years
- Proof100 proof / 50% ABV (Bottled-in-Bond)
- FiltrationNon-chill filtered
- Barrel53-gallon new charred American oak
- ColorNatural
- SourcedNo — distilled and aged on-site
Our Full Review of New Riff Malted Rye
New Riff Malted Rye is one of the most distinctive rye whiskeys in America. Crafted from a 100% malted rye mashbill — an extreme rarity in the industry — this Kentucky straight rye takes what you know about rye whiskey and transforms it. The malting process softens the typical rye punchiness, replacing it with an elegant, refined spice profile and a chewy, malt-forward texture that will remind single malt fans of their favorite Scotch expressions.
On the nose, vanilla and oak lead, with pear, a dusting of powdered sugar, a cool thread of mint, cocoa and plum-like dark fruit. The palate is where the malt shows: caramel and baking spice over a rounded, toasty-malty core, with clove and a rye spice that is restrained rather than peppery. At 100 proof and non-chill filtered (Bottled-in-Bond), the mouthfeel is rounded and medium-full, and several reviewers describe it as oily.
The finish is medium-long — clove, pepper and oak linger as the spice dries it out, though a few reviewers find it fades sooner than the nose promises. Several reviewers note that it does not taste like a traditional rye, which is the point of the 100% malted mash bill and also the reason it divides opinion.
Across 12 independent published sources, critic reviews and four drinker rating pools together, the RyeCentral Consensus Score is 4.0/5. Critic verdicts run from 6/10 to 95/100, the drinker pools sit a little higher than the critics, and no single source moves the figure by more than about a fourteenth of a point. This is New Riff at its most unusual, and for a curious rye drinker it is well worth a pour.
Community Tasting Notes
Top Reported Flavors
Typical Spread of Opinion
Illustrative shape derived from the average and the range of scores — not a published per-star breakdown.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- Rare 100% malted rye mashbill
- Elegant, refined spice profile
- Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof, non-chill filtered
- Excellent value at $55–$65
Cons
- Distinctive profile not for all tastes
- Some reviewers find the finish fades quickly
- Several reviewers say it does not taste like a traditional rye
- The malty character requires an open mind
Prefer bolder, spice-forward rye? Compare this elegant malted rye against New Riff's flagship New Riff Bottled in Bond Straight Rye — a 95% rye grain bill with more pepper and rye-forward punch.
Staying inside the malted-rye style but want something gentler, the other widely available 100% malted rye is Basil Hayden's 80-proof malted rye — lower proof, lighter body, and a honeyed rather than grain-driven finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
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