New Riff Barrel Strength is for the guest who wants the full, undiluted picture. This is New Riff Distilling’s bottled-in-bond bourbon offered at cask strength and without chill filtration, which means it lands on the bar with every bit of its texture and power intact. We keep it on the shelf here in West Seattle for the whiskey drinkers who like to meet a bourbon on its own terms, then dial it in with water at their own pace.
About the Distillery
New Riff Distilling sits in Newport, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Founded in 2014, it is a modern independent distillery that committed early to doing things the hard way: a full sour-mash Kentucky regimen, an age statement on every bottle, and bottled-in-bond standards as the house default. That insistence on transparency and quality has made New Riff one of the most respected of the new wave of Kentucky distilleries.
Style & Mash Bill
This is a Kentucky straight bourbon built on a genuinely high-rye mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. The barrel-strength version is bottled without chill filtration, so proof varies by batch and the whiskey keeps the oils and body that filtering can strip away. Expect a bigger, bolder expression of the same recipe behind New Riff’s standard bottled-in-bond bourbon.
Tasting Notes
The high rye drives a savory, spicy character: baking spice, black pepper, and dark caramel up front, with toasted oak, leather, and a touch of dark fruit underneath. At full proof the finish is long, warm, and assertive. A few drops of water open it up and reveal more of the sweeter, vanilla-and-caramel side.
How to Enjoy It at Camp West
Our pour is $16. Given the strength, we suggest neat with a side of water so you can open it to taste, or over a single large rock. It also makes a serious Old Fashioned if you want that rye spice to carry the drink. Tell your bartender how bold you like it.
FAQ
What proof is it? It is barrel strength, so the exact proof varies batch to batch. Ask your bartender for the current bottle’s number.
Is it chill filtered? No. Like all New Riff whiskeys, it is bottled without chill filtration to preserve body and texture.
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