This is the debut release from New Riff Distillery in Newport, Kentucky – just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. It’s a 4-year-old bottled in bond Bourbon with an aromatic, peppery nose and a good balance of caramel, pipe tobacco, honey, and vanilla notes underneath with a subtle hint of cherries. The taste is spicy with hints of cinnamon and black pepper on top of caramel candy, honey, vanilla, and touches of cherries and butterscotch. Water opens it up nicely and brings out touches of apricots and dried fruits. The finish is long with hints of caramel, dark chocolate, and cherries. An excellent debut! (September, 2018)