Craft whiskey is officially growing up. For years, the major complaint facing newer craft distilleries was that their portfolios lacked the deep maturation of legacy brands. However, Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling is flipping the script with its latest limited-edition drop: the 10-Year-Old High Note Bourbon and Rye releases.
As double-digit age statements finally arrive in the craft sector, we put these high-integrity, barrel-proof, non-chill-filtered expressions head-to-head to see if they live up to the hype.
The Fast Facts: New Riff 10-Year-Old Duo
10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Expression: High Note Collection Specialty Release
- Age: 10 Years Old
- Proof: 116.9 Proof (58.45% ABV)
- Mash Bill: 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
- Price: Limited Distillery Release
10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye
- Expression: High Note Collection Specialty Release
- Age: 10 Years Old
- Proof: 118 Proof (59% ABV)
- Mash Bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Rye
- Price: Limited Distillery Release
Tasting Notes & Review
New Riff 10-Year-Old Bourbon
Nose: The extra time in the wood shines through immediately. Deep, rich pipe tobacco and dark plum take center stage, brightened up by an elegant layer of citrus rind and mature oak.
Palate: Robust and dense. The high-rye mash bill delivers punchy baking spices and a hit of black pepper, beautifully balanced by dark cherry jam and caramelized brown sugar. Heavy wood tannins show the whiskey’s decade of high-integrity maturation without feeling overly dry.
Finish: Long, warm, and distinctly spicy. The citrus notes return alongside lingering seasoned oak.
New Riff 10-Year-Old Rye
Nose: Classic New Riff punchiness but remarkably smoothed out by age. Big bursts of fresh spearmint, herbal tea, vanilla bean, and sweet honey dominate the aroma.
Palate: Viscous and juicy with a remarkably well-rounded mouthfeel. It leads with cinnamon sugar and lemon zest before transitioning into surprising mid-palate notes of ripe peach and vanilla bread pudding.
Finish: A balanced harmony of herbal mint, soft fruit sweetness, and lingering, drying rye spice.
The Verdict
Both of these releases are absolute triumphs for the craft distilling industry, proving that craft whiskey can compete directly with the oldest brands on the market. While our palate leans slightly toward the deep complexity of the high-rye 10-Year Bourbon, the 10-Year Rye offers an incredibly unique, juicy fruit profile that rye lovers will obsess over.
If you are anywhere near Northern Kentucky, head to the distillery immediately to track down these rare bottles. They are legitimate contenders for whiskey of the year.
Our Rating: Must Buy / Highly Recommended
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