91
Score
New Riff Bottled in Bond Balboa (2026 Release), 43%
Price: ● Issue: Summer 2026 ● Reviewer: ● Category: Rye Whiskey
Made from a mashbill of 5% malted rye and 95% Balboa rye (an heirloom varietal), it opens with sumo citrus, loads of cinnamon spice, ripe strawberries, and berry smoothie on the nose. The palate is loaded with hot spice, but it’s tempered by the sweetness of strawberry jam, clove, and creamy Marshmallow Fluff. Pepper, dill pickle, earthiness, heaps of baking spices, marshmallow, and a burst of berries make for a heady finish.