whiskey flight review

New Riff’s Best Lineup Ever? 10-Year Bourbon vs Single Malt & DUET

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Today on Your Bourbon Journey, Wayne and Rebecca present “The Full Symphony” tasting flight featuring three incredible releases from New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky! 

We recently picked up our New Riff Whiskey Club bottles and couldn’t wait to crack them open on the table. In this comprehensive review and side-by-side tasting flight, we break down mash bills, barrel maturations, tasting notes, and pick our top contender for Whiskey of the Month. 

Here is the flight lineup:

1️⃣ New Riff DUET American Whiskey (Rhinegeist Collaboration)
2️⃣ New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt Whiskey (Spring 2026 Vatting 26.06.12.05)
3️⃣ New Riff High Note 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Which of these three pours took the crown, and how does the Rhinegeist beer foeder influence compare to the peated Scottish barley or the 10-year cherry bomb bourbon? Watch to find out!

Drop a comment below: Have you tried any of New Riff’s specialty malt projects or the High Note series? What’s your favorite pour coming out of Newport right now?

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with fellow whiskey lovers. Cheers! 🥃

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

New Riff DUET American Whiskey (Rhinegeist Collaboration)

  • Classification: American Whiskey
  • Company: New Riff Distilling
  • Distillery: New Riff Distilling (Newport, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 57% Malted Barley, 37% Raw Barley, 6% Rye
  • Age: At least 6 Years
  • Proof: 111.2 Proof (55.6% ABV)
  • SRP: $79.99
  • Released: June 2026
  • Other: A cross-river collaboration with Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist Brewery. Aged in new charred oak alongside select Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, married in a Rhinegeist oak beer FOODer, and finished in used American oak casks; non-chill filtered.
  • Purchased: June 4, 2026 for $79.99 at New Riff Distilling Online

New Riff Sour Mash Single Malt Whiskey

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey / American Single Malt
  • Company: New Riff Distilling
  • Distillery: New Riff Distilling (Newport, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley (a blend of distinct malt mash bills including Maris Otter, Golden Promise, Chevallier Heirloom, Scottish Peated, Barleywine-style, and Belgian Quadrupel-style malts)
  • Age: At least 7 Years Old
  • Proof: 111.7 Proof (55.85% ABV)
  • SRP: $69.99
  • Released: Spring/Summer 2026 (Vatting 26.06.12.05)
  • Other: Distilled using traditional sour mash fermentation; matured across new charred oak, sherry, and wine casks before vatting; bottled at cask strength, non-chill filtered.
  • Purchased: July 24, 2026 for $69.99 at New Riff Distilling Gift Shop (Newport, KY) 

New Riff High Note 10-Year-Old

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Company: New Riff Distilling
  • Distillery: New Riff Distilling (Newport, KY)
  • Mash Bill: 65% Corn, 30% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
  • Age: 10 Years Old
  • Proof: 116.9 Proof (58.45% ABV)
  • SRP: $89.99
  • Released: June 2026
  • Other: High Note Series limited release; bottled at natural barrel proof without chill filtration.
  • Purchased: June 4, 2026 for $89.99 at New Riff Distilling Online

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

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Don’t Buy An Old Jett Finish Until You Watch This

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Four for Tuesday! On this episode of Your Bourbon Journey, Wayne and Rebecca dive into an incredible “Curiosities & Wood” flight featuring four unique expressions of The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, Kentucky.

Known for their traditional sweet-mash, double pot-distilled approach and exceptional flavor profiles, Royce Neeley and the team have crafted some of the most adventurous barrel finishes in craft whiskey. From fortified and dry European wine casks to Mexican Sotol and multi-use hybrid wood, we break down the nose, palate, and finish on each pour to crown a unanimous favorite for our monthly blind whiskey competition.

Featured Flight Details:

🍇🌾🍯 Old Jett Finished in White Port Barrel

🍷🍫🇮🇹 Old Jett Finished in Amarone Wine Barrel

🎆🌵💥 Old Jett Finished in Sotol Barrel (America’s 250th Anniversary Edition) 

🪵🥧🍂 Old Jett Finished in Brandy Amburana Rye Hybrid Cask

Which of these wild barrel finishes would you try first? Let us know in the comments below!

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

🎓 Want to earn a FREE Whiskey Certificate? Start your bourbon education journey with Whiskey University today! Take your first steps here: https://www.whiskeyuniv.com/first-steps

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a White Port Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Finished)
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039 — Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Sweet-Mash Wheated Bourbon
  • Age: NAS (Primary maturation ~4–5 years + 28 months secondary finishing; fortified wine)
  • Proof: 107 (53.5% ABV)
  • Purchased 07/24/26 for $100 at Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Amarone Wine Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Finished)
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039 — Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Sweet-Mash High-Rye Bourbon
  • Age: NAS (Primary maturation ~4–5 years + 11 months secondary finishing; dry red wine cask)
  • Proof: 106.4 (53.2% ABV)
  • Other: Finished in European Italian Amarone red wine casks.
  • Purchased 07/24/26 for $100 at Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sotol Barrel

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Finished)
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039 — Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Sweet-Mash High-Rye Bourbon
  • Age: NAS (Primary maturation ~4–5 years + 19 months secondary finishing; botanical / agave-adjacent spirit finish)
  • Proof: 112.4 (56.2% ABV)
  • Other: Finished in casks previously holding Mexican Sotol spirit (distilled wild Dasylirion plant).
  • Purchased 07/24/26 for $100 at Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Brandy Amburana Rye (Cask)

  • Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Finished)
  • Distillery: Neeley Family Distillery (DSP-KY-20039 — Sparta, KY)
  • Mash Bill: Sweet-Mash High-Rye Bourbon
  • Age: NAS (Primary maturation ~4–5 years + 48 months / 4 years secondary finishing; exotic wood and fruit brandy hybrid)
  • Proof: 103 (51.5% ABV)
  • Other: An extended 4-year finish in hybrid casks that conditioned both fruit brandy and Brazilian Amburana oak.
  • Purchased 07/24/26 for $100 at Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, KY

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

#Bourbon #WhiskeyReview #OldJett #NeeleyFamilyDistillery #FinishedBourbon #CraftSpirits #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyTasting #BourbonFlight #YourBourbonJourney #SotolFinish #Amburana #SweetMash #BourbonCommunity #WhiskeyTube