New Riff Single Barrel Vs. Smoke Wagon Small Batch

These are both newer options from young whiskey producers. They are both in the same price-range ($50-$50), both around 100proof, and both have high-rye mash bills.

Smoke Wagon) This is currently a sourced whisky from MGP.

-The Nose is light, with leather, spice, vanilla, slight funk, and alcohol. 

-The Palate is initially hot and spicy, but quickly moves into vanilla and a corn-sugar sweetness. The rye spice spice comes back in as you chew, and there is a slight orange note as well. 

-The medium Finish has more spice, some oak, and also a slight bitter note that is a little off-putting.

Overall this is a young, but fairly complex, and tasty bottle. It does taste like pretty standard MGP to me though.

New Riff) 4yr old, 103.4proof. I have 3 different SiB bottles of this, and they definitely range from fruity to spicy. I chose the middle-of-the-road bottle for this comparison.

-The Nose is beautiful and floral, along with some leather, light oak, and fruit (cherry, apple, slight banana). 

-The Palate is initially full of caramel, but then great fruit flavors of dark cherry, apple, and light citrus, and a hint of banana. There is also vanilla, and some charred oak. 

-The Finish is medium with more fruity rye spice, oak, and subtle mesquite smoked flavors.

Overall, I am a huge fan of New Riff’s Single Barrels. Each one is different, but they have all been delicious.

VERDICT) To my palate this one is not even close, and Fancy Glencairn made an error in going for the fancy bottle (that is a VERY fancy bottle though so I don’t blame her too much). Smoke Wagon is good, but nothing really unique for me. New Riff SiB, on the other hand, is, I think, my favorite 4yr old whiskey I’ve ever had.