New Riff Backsetter Bourbon Review | Whiskey Raiders
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Bourbon

New Riff Backsetter Bourbon

  • Distiller:

    New Riff

  • Bottler:

    New Riff

  • ABV:

    50%

  • Age:

    4 Years

  • Price:
    $$$$$
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Aggregated Reviews
  • Raided Score: 61
  • Publication: SpiritSurveyor
  • Excerpt: I got none of the peat notes that I love in scotch, but just a heavy sour and acidic flavor throughout. The finish to me should make me want to have another sip, but this was downright gross.
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  • Raided Score: 88
  • Publication: Breaking Bourbon
  • Excerpt: The end result is a bourbon that tastes like it was barrel-aged in a used scotch barrel like High West Campfire was. It noses like a scotch yet has a distinctly bourbon palate. It’s great to see New Riff experimenting and innovating on what it means to be a bourbon.
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  • Raided Score: 84
  • Publication: Distiller
  • Excerpt: Towards the back is where the smoke really kicks in, with ashy campfire embers and asphalt. The finish is short, with cedar wood, grass and black pepper.
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  • Raided Score: 91
  • Publication: Whisky Advocate
  • Excerpt: This particular backset is from a mash of peated malted barley, and the result is an earthy whiskey with spiced accents that meld with sweeter flavors of candied grapes and dark fruits. The finish is long, smooth, and rich, with back notes of spice and cracked pepper.
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  • Raided Score: 92
  • Publication: WhiskyCast
  • Excerpt: The taste is spicy with clove, cinnamon, caramel, roasted almonds, and the smokiness comes alive as the spices start to fade into a long, smoky finish with lingering spices. Very nice!
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  • Raided Score: 91
  • Publication: Drinkhacker
  • Excerpt: The generous finish turns more classic with baking spice and butterscotch notes, but a touch of salty smoke lingers. Unique for sure and surprisingly enjoyable.
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  • Raided Score: 90
  • Publication: Whiskey Raiders
  • Excerpt: Honestly an interesting, unique and fairly well executed experiment that further demonstrates the complexity that experimentation can bring when done right. This balances smoke, citrus and oak very well.
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Raided Score is a conversion from an external site's score, to our in house uniform scoring system. Please see the FAQ for more.

House Review
  • Intro:

    Produced at New Riff using a peated mash, Backsetter Bourbon is a notable, and first of its kind release for the brand.

  • Nose:

    Sweet on the nose, but gentle and deceptive. Sweet cream, caramel, a bit of orange zest and some white pepper.

  • Taste:

    Rich on the palate, with some smoked notes coming through. Creamy orange, pepper, a bit of oak and earth. The smoke character is pretty mild, which is probably for the best.

  • Finish:

    Dry, ashy finish with a bit of bbq smoke, a bit of oak and some lovely pepper.

  • Overall:

    Honestly an interesting, unique and fairly well executed experiment that further demonstrates the complexity that experimentation can bring when done right. This balances smoke, citrus and oak very well.

  • Score:

    6

  • By t8ke
  • Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
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