New Riff has quickly established itself as one of Kentucky's most transparent and quality-driven craft distilleries, and their Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye is a cornerstone of the lineup. What makes this rye unique is the mashbill — 95% rye with 5% malted rye rather than the typical malted barley. This all-rye grain bill delivers an especially pure rye character that's bold, spicy, and unapologetically grain-forward. At 100 proof and 4 years old, it meets every requirement of the Bottled-in-Bond Act while also being non-chill filtered — a rarity at this price point. The result is a rye that punches well above its weight class.

The nose opens with classic rye aromatics: black pepper, mint, vanilla, and butterscotch, all layered with allspice. The palate delivers cinnamon spice, toffee, and rich rye grain character with a medium-full mouthfeel enhanced by the non-chill filtered approach. The finish is where this bottle truly shines — long, warming, and loaded with persistent rye spice, vanilla buttercream, and brown sugar.

For under $50, this is one of the best straight rye values on the market today.