Rye Whiskey 'Balboa Rye'

• Special edition Bottled in Bond rye whiskey produced by New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky
• Mash bill of 95% heirloom Balboa rye and 5% malted barley
• Open top, sour mash fermentation
• Twice distilled; the first run in a Vendome copper column still followed by distillation in a copper continuous doubler
• Aged a minimum 4 years
• Displays more spiced fruit than New Riff’s flagship rye, waxy and honeyed notes on the nose precede a full-bodied mid-palate of spiced fruit compote with a finish of baking spice and wintergreen
• Gold medalist at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Non-chill filtered; 50% ABV

One of the distillery’s most sought-after “whiskey riffs”, the namesake rye chosen for Balboa Rye is an heirloom variety that was popular in Indiana in the 1940s, and is grown by New Riff’s corn farmer, Charles Fogg.

Tasting Notes

Over the years, New Riff has exercised its creativity by producing a number of “specialty whiskeys,” and Balboa Rye was one of the first. This whiskey is named for the heirloom rye from which it is made, grown by New Riff’s corn farmer, Charles Fogg, and is a variety that was especially popular in Indiana in the 1940s. Typical of heirloom rye, Balboa is a smaller grain than modern varieties and has a lower yield per acre of planting; it’s meaningful that New Riff continues to make space for this kind of exploration of America’s whiskey-making heritage.

With a mash bill of 95% heirloom Balboa rye and 5% malted rye, this minimum-4-year-old whiskey offers spiced fruit flavors unique from New Riff’s flagship rye. Waxy, honeyed notes on the nose precede a full-bodied mid-palate of spiced fruit compote with a finish of baking spice and wintergreen. Non-chill filtered and Bottled in Bond at 50% ABV.