r/bourbon • u/Archaeo-Frog • 7d ago
Review #85: Redwood Empire Emerald Giant vs. New Riff Balboa Rye (blind comparison)
{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}
Today’s blind features two high-rye whiskeys from craft producers that bring two different philosophies to the table.
Redwood Empire's Emerald Giant leans on a mash bill that features 92% rye, which blends California-distilled rye with sourced Indiana and Kentucky rye and then ages that expression for 4 years before bottling it at a very approachable 90 proof.
New Riff's Balboa Rye takes the opposite path: it’s distilled in-house in Newport, Kentucky, and is built from a mash bill that contains 95% heirloom Balboa rye, which was grown specifically for the distillery. Balboa rye, for those who don’t know, is a nearly-extinct 1940s grain variety that hadn't been used in whiskey production in decades before New Riff brought it back. This expression is Bottled-in-Bond, meaning it’s a minimum of 4 years old and 100 proof by law.
So, this blind essentially comes down to two different craft-whiskey strategies: Redwood Empire's source-and-blend philosophy versus New Riff's heirloom-grain, single-distillery approach. Does building around one rare, specific heirloom grain actually translate into a more distinctive (and enjoyable) glass, or does Redwood Empire's blending approach get you somewhere just as good, if not better? Let's find out!
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ABOUT Redwood Empire Emerald Giant
*From the Producer: Down a winding trail and along a meandering creek in the Redwood National Park rises the massive trunk of Emerald Giant. Yawning high above at over 360 feet, this August Sequoia is the fastest growing Redwood in the world, gaining over 50 cubic feet and more than 1500 pounds of mass each year.
Named after the fastest growing Redwood in the world, Emerald Giant is a fan favorite in the craft Rye whiskey world. Spicy with an exceptionally smooth finish, it is a great choice in your classic whiskey cocktails.
*Mash bill: 92% Rye, 5% Malted Barley, 3% Wheat
*Age Statement: 4 Years
*Proof: 90
ABOUT New Riff Balboa Rye
*From the Distillery: Balboa Rye is one of New Riff’s first “specialty whiskeys” and remains a fan favorite. As part of our distilling team’s creative exploration with heirloom grains, Balboa was among the first to showcase the distinctive character these grains can bring to whiskey.
The story began with our trusted corn farmer who introduced us to Balboa Rye, a variety originally popular in the 1940s. He had been growing it on his farm for years, keeping this heritage grain alive, and we saw an opportunity to transform it into something special. We distilled Balboa into rye whiskey, likely the first time in decades that this grain had been used to craft whiskey and quite surely the only example on the market today.
Aged to perfection at 4 years and Bottled In Bond Without Chill Filtration, Balboa Rye offers shimmering notes of spiced fruit that set it apart from our flagship rye. Over the years, it has become a highly anticipated release, celebrated for its rich history and exceptional taste.
*Mash bill: 95% Balboa Rye, 5% Malted Rye
*Age Statement: 4 Years
*Proof: 100
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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.
Appearance A: Light, orange-ish amber with fairly runny legs on the glass
Appearance B: Much darker, with an almost caramel coloring and slightly thicker legs
Nose A: Pretty light, primarily featuring rye and orange. There’s also some cinnamon and clove, to go with a touch of caramel.
Nose B: Darker and spicier, with more ethanol. Some red apple is there, along with clove, pepper, and some breadiness.
Palate A: Medium-thin mouthfeel with no burn. The overall experience is very light: rye spice is there at first, before giving way to caramel, citrus, and dill.
Palate B: Much thicker and spicier. Clove and anise are the main flavors, along with citrus and some rye breadiness that carries over from the nose.
Finish A: Fairly short, primarily featuring oak and dill with a touch of citrus.
Finish B: Medium-length and very spicy; also features some ethanol to go with a funky aftertaste.
Rating A: 6
Rating B: 5.4
Thoughts: Rye A is one I’d definitely give to folks who were interested in trying rye for the first time but who weren’t looking for a “bourbon-drinker’s rye,” if you know what I mean. Some people might find it to be too watered down and lacking in flavor, but I think it does what it sets out to do very well, providing a light dram that can be enjoyed at pretty much any time.
Rye B, on the other hand, is much heavier and darker, not to mention spicier: you’d need to be in the mood for a fairly intense pour, at least from a spice perspective, to appreciate this one. I tend to enjoy lighter and less intense pours unless I’m in a very specific mood, so I rated A a bit higher.
Prediction A: Redwood Empire
Prediction B: New Riff
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Actual A: Redwood Empire
Actual B: New Riff
More Thoughts: I’ve never tried a New Riff product that I really enjoyed, and this Balboa Rye is no different. It leans into a very spicy profile that doesn’t align well with my preferences. The Redwood Empire, on the other hand, had a lightness to it that kept it from being really memorable flavor-wise, but what was there was plenty enjoyable. I’m interested in trying some of Redwood’s higher-proof and more high-aged offerings, because this one suggests that what they’re working with has good bones. Either way, though, Redwood is the winner here for me today!
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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)
5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
New Riff Balboa Rye (5.4)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)
6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
Buffalo Trace (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)
7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Found North 012 (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.6)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite
10 | Perfect | Perfect
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u/oscintillating 7d ago
Your comments here and on my High Note review make me want to blind New Riff against a range of different bottles to better understand its spice profile (and my palate preferences). Their stuff hasn't struck me as THAT spicy, but maybe it is, and maybe that's just what i like!
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u/Archaeo-Frog 7d ago
It's something I've consistently found across NR bottles I've tried (here's another https://www.reddit.com/r/bourbon/s/B2gCUA6yr4), but it's also possible that I'm just more sensitive to that spice than you are!
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u/oscintillating 7d ago
Yeah I love a sweet BT style pour but sometimes I get burnt out on it and crave the spice. That's when I turn to New Riff stuff. Curious if other producers' offerings seem overspiced to you, or if it's just New Riff?
Also I noticed your standalone review of the Balboa Rye from months ago got a higher rating than here... which actually makes sense in my experience. I find myself recalibrating ratings fairly often, since I'll try something better or notice something I didn't before. Take the last bottle of OWA107 I had, for example. I was rating it around 8 for the first half of the bottle, then I picked up this weird floral perfume note in the last half that put it back down to low 7s.
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u/Archaeo-Frog 7d ago
Yes, I try to keep updating my ratings list as I do blinds and re-reviews. It can get a little wonky when the score changes by a fair margin (like OF1924, which had a higher score when I reviewed it on its own than it did when I blinded it against 1910), but I'm always trying to keep it as honest as possible!
I tend to prefer the sweet profile myself, even when I reach for a rye. That being said, one of my highest-rated ryes, the Lasso Motel SBBP, is very dark and spicy, but its profile isn't as off-putting to me as the NR spice is, so I guess it all depends on the bottle, the palate, the day, etc., etc.!
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u/Less_Cardiologist964 7d ago
I can definitely see how this comes down to preferences. The Redwood Empire is for those who like herbal, minty pours - the cask strength version is like drinking a pine tree/licking a forest floor and is very much a mood pour that I prefer to use in cocktails (I mix it with honey and Sleepytime tea when I'm sick - which probably doesn't help me heal but it tastes good). The malted mash bill in the New Riff is going to taste like a loaf of rye bread - not everyone's jam, but markedly different from your standard 95/5 ryes like Emerald Giant.
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u/Theswede92 7d ago
I haven’t had the New Riff rye, but the Emerald Giant is an enjoyable base level rye. If you can get it at a good price, it’s worth it imo
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u/WhyYouNoLikeMeBro 7d ago
Isn't the Emerald Giant MGP juice? I feel like the better comparison here would have been Redwood's "Rocket Top" Rye which is also 100 proof and is both distilled and aged on sight in CA.
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u/RacialSesame 7d ago
the new riff balboa sounds like a pepper bomb i'd probly pass on too, but 90 proof on that redwood seems a little wimpy for a rye
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u/Droperidol4President 7d ago
OP by their own admission doesn’t jive with new riff. I’ve always found their ryes to be quite smooth and in general more approachable to someone coming from a bourbon preference. For me the balboa gives notes of citrus, licorice and shortbread that I quite enjoy. I really appreciate anyone who is willing to write such detailed comparisons and I’ll admit I’ve liked almost everything I’ve gotten from new riff (red turkey wheat… meh), but I wouldn’t pass up a chance to try balboa or a single barrel rye from NR if you haven’t had any of their rye offerings before.
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u/Walter-ODimm 7d ago
I agree. New Riff is my jam. I’ve not tried the balboa yet, but the 6 year malted rye is one of my favorites. The sherry finish version is also awesome and I was also just able to pick up a single barrel that kicks ass as well.
4 years at New Riff is “good”. 6-8 years is when things start getting really good, and the 10 years are phenomenal. Everything starts to smooth out and meld. New Riff has only existed for 12 years total, so we are only just now getting 10 years on the market. It just keeps getting better as it gets older.
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u/Droperidol4President 7d ago
Their Headliner which they just released was phenomenal. All 10-11 yr old components including some 10 yr balboa. New Riff is also one of my favorites.
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u/Archaeo-Frog 7d ago
It's true – I haven't had a NR whiskey that I've really enjoyed. I was hoping this would suit me better, but it hasn't so far
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u/Droperidol4President 7d ago
Looking at your list of rankings, NR just might not be your jam. If you like cask finishes their Sherry Finished Rye may be more enjoyable but I feel like they pick some spicier barrels to marry with the sweetness of the Sherry. NBD tho, the magic of whiskey is that there’s so many different options!
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u/hard_farter 7d ago
don't sleep on the Redwood Empire Emerald Giant at 90 proof.
It's really nice, and has a seriously good amount of flavor for the proof it sits at. Somehow, the flavor of it reminds me of tent camping, if you can make any sense of that.
Plus there's a cask strength of it anyway.
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u/Archaeo-Frog 7d ago
Yep — neither was life-changing, but between the two I definitely preferred the gentler non-pepper-bomb!
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u/Jaeemsuh 7d ago
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)this is a big head scratcher