New Riff has been turning heads in American whiskey circles for good reason. This Single Barrel Rye, distilled in 2019 and bottled at four years old exclusively for The Whisky Exchange, lands at a punchy 57.8% ABV — cask strength, no apologies. At £97.95, it sits in that interesting bracket where you're paying a premium for exclusivity and single barrel character, but not so much that it feels like a gamble.
I'll be honest: four years is young for any whiskey commanding close to a hundred pounds. But age statements can be misleading, and what matters is what's in the glass. New Riff's commitment to bottled-in-bond principles and full-proof bottling means nothing is hidden here. What you taste is exactly what the barrel gave up — no water added, no blending to smooth out the rough edges. That transparency is something I always respect in a producer.
Tasting Notes
No detailed tasting notes are provided for this particular single barrel selection, which is the nature of exclusive bottlings — each barrel tells its own story. What I can say is that at 57.8%, expect this to be bold and unapologetic. A rye at cask strength will typically deliver serious spice and structure, with the single barrel format ensuring there's genuine individuality in every bottle. This is not a whiskey that's been committee'd into submission. It has edges, and that's precisely the point.
The Verdict
I'm giving this a 7.9 out of 10. This is a confident, well-made rye that delivers exactly what it promises: single barrel character at full proof, with enough youth to retain real vitality and enough craft to justify the price of entry. The Whisky Exchange exclusivity adds genuine collector appeal — once these barrels are gone, they're gone. Where it loses a fraction of a mark is on the age-to-price ratio; at four years old, I'd like to see this sit closer to the £80 mark. But the cask strength bottling and single barrel selection process go some way toward justifying the ask. For rye enthusiasts looking to explore what American craft distilling can achieve with uncompromising bottling standards, this is well worth your attention.
Best Served
Pour this neat and give it a full five minutes in the glass before your first sip — at 57.8%, it needs the air. A few drops of water will open it up considerably and take the alcoholic heat down to a more conversational level. If you're inclined toward cocktails, a cask-strength rye of this calibre makes an exceptional Old Fashioned — the proof stands up to dilution and ice without losing its backbone. But I'd suggest tasting it straight first. You've paid for a single barrel; you deserve to meet it on its own terms.
