New Riff ventures into finishing with Sherry Finished Malted Rye Whiskey
TL;DR
A year after the release of their 6-year old Malted Rye whiskey, New Riff is introducing a [ahem] new riff on that style.
New Riff Sherry Finished Malted Rye Whiskey is coming this May and builds on the same recipe as last year's expression. The distillery imported 12 oloroso and 3 pedro ximenez Spanish sherry casks and filled them with 5-year-old New Riff Malted Rye Whiskey, where they aged for an additional year. The finished barrels were then dumped and batched last fall, and left to marry and condition until bottling this spring.
Last year we released our Malted Rye Whiskey, and experiencing its remarkably elegant, sophisticated character gave us another idea. We think of it as a malt whiskey first and a rye whiskey second, which raised the question: what would happen if we treated it like other malt whiskies and aged it in sherry casks?
– New Riff co-founder Jay Erisman
New Riff Sherry Finished Malted Rye Whiskey is bottled at cask strength at 112.7 proof, without chill filtration.
A limited number of bottles will be available throughout New Riff's distribution footprint for $65 per 750ml bottle.
Tasting notes provided by New Riff:
- Nose: buttery, sherry oak, notes of walnut and a hint of vanilla
- Palate: broad, savory character, flavors of sappy sherry coupled with malty grain
- Finish: brightening spices such as clove and wood spice with multicolored fruit skin
