New Riff BiB Vs. Henry McKenna BiB

Here we have a newcomer, younger, Bottled in Bond, Vs a classic BiB favorite that is older, and from powerhouse distillery Heaven Hill. They are (should be) both in the $35-40 price range.

Henry McKenna BiB) 10 years in the barrel does make a difference. The nose starts with some alcohol, quickly moving into spice, mint, oak, and orange. The palate is rich and a little oily with classic bourbon flavors of vanilla, salted-caramel, and oak, but also a little mint, and lots of rye spice on the decently-long finish. Very smooth, easy to drink, and fairly complex. Nothing super unique, but an incredible deal for the MSRP.

New Riff BiB) Right at first sip you know this is a younger bourbon. Much more fruitiness on the nose, some leather, and less oak but still there. The first sip has a little bit of a salted-butter, with vanilla, caramel sweetness, and rye spice. The finish has spice and leather, and is medium in length. The is also a great whiskey, the butter flavor I get is interesting, and for a brand-new product on the market I think this shows great promise.

Verdict) New Riff is a great new entrant in the field, and I can’t wait until they have 6-10 year old batches… For now though, McKenna definitely defends it’s reputation and is the clear winner here… But, I would not pay the prices many bottle-shops are asking right now!