New Riff has been turning heads in Kentucky for some time now, and this 8 Year Old Single Malt represents something genuinely interesting from a distillery that refuses to cut corners. At 50% ABV — bottled without chill filtration, as is New Riff's house standard — this is a whiskey that arrives with real conviction. Eight years of age on a Kentucky single malt puts it in relatively rare territory; most American single malts hit the market considerably younger, so there is patience at work here that deserves acknowledgement.
What strikes me about this release is the category itself. American single malt whiskey remains an emerging designation, and New Riff's decision to work with malted rye grain adds another layer of distinction. This is not a bourbon, not a traditional rye, and not a Scotch imitator. It occupies its own ground. At £98.75, you are paying for something with genuine age and a production philosophy that prioritises substance over speed — no sourced stock, no shortcuts.
Tasting Notes
I do not have detailed tasting notes to share at the time of writing, but the profile of this whiskey can be reasonably anticipated from its credentials. Eight years in Kentucky's climate — where seasonal temperature swings drive aggressive interaction between spirit and wood — tends to produce whiskies with considerable depth and oak influence. The rye malt base should bring a spicier, grainier backbone than you would find in a barley-based single malt, while the bottling strength of 50% ABV ensures nothing has been diluted away for the sake of approachability. Expect a whiskey that demands your attention rather than asking for it politely.
The Verdict
I am giving the New Riff 8 Year Old Single Malt a score of 7.7 out of 10. This is a genuinely good whiskey that earns its place on the shelf through honest production and proper maturation. The price point sits at the higher end for American whiskey, but you are getting eight years of Kentucky ageing at a robust 50% ABV — there is real value in the glass. Where it falls just short of the top tier is in the sheer competitiveness of the single malt category globally; at this price, it shares shelf space with some formidable Scotch and Japanese expressions. But taken on its own terms, as a statement of what American single malt can be when given time and care, it is well worth seeking out. New Riff continues to prove that Kentucky has more to offer than bourbon alone.
Best Served
Pour this neat and give it five minutes to open up in the glass. If the 50% ABV carries too much heat on the first sip, add a small splash of still water — no more than a teaspoon — and let it sit another minute. The bottling strength is there for a reason, and diluting too aggressively would undo the distillery's intention. A Glencairn glass will concentrate the aromas nicely. This is an after-dinner whiskey: something to sit with, not rush through.
