A non-retraction retraction

“D’oh!!!” – Homer Simpson

I have made a mistake. Not a huge one; life will go on and the Sun will continue to rise. Yet it’s big enough to give me a topic for this week’s column.

Last week I wrote about New Riff Distillery’s Bottled in Bond that was voted to be 2026’s “World’s Best Bourbon”. Have I reconsidered? Is it 2026’s World’s Best Bourbon? Still … no.

However, I did commit a cardinal sin that bears review. When one is pondering bourbon, or wine, or food, it’s always subjective. Everyone is different, and everyone experiences tastes differently. That’s why this column is in the opinion section and not the legal notice section.

Yet, there is one important bourbon tasting concept that I haven’t discussed with you yet. It is this concept that I failed to employ regarding New Riff’s Bottled in Bond.

When tasting and evaluating a bourbon, always give it a second (or even third and fourth) taste on a different day before giving it a final thumbs up or down. I don’t know why, but many times I’ve tried a bourbon and it didn’t blow my socks off. Then, I would try it on another day and in another setting and, “Wow, this stuff is great!” It doesn’t happen with other drinks or foods; broccoli always tastes like broccoli and pizza always tastes like pizza. Bourbon just has to be unusual. Of course, that’s what we like about it.

I don’t understand why. I suppose it has to do with what one has eaten, the environment, the amount of air it has mixed with, or the alignment of the stars and the Moon. I don’t know. What I do know is that the phenomenon is real. I’ve discussed it with several friends over the years and they agree. I failed to take this strange bourbon rule into account with New Riff’s Bottled in Bond. Worse yet, I wrote about it! That really doesn’t upset me too much. I’ve told you before, I’m winging it here.

On Sundays we have family dinners. After a nice meal, it is usually cards (nickel and dime poker) and drinks with our grown kids, my wife’s parents, and her aunt and uncle. Did I say drinks? I should’ve said drinking. Having recently acquired and written about them, I decided to share my recent acquisitions from New Riff and give the folks a taste.

The Bottled in Bond was delicious! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, including myself. Yes, lighter and less complex than many bourbons. Yet, it had an amazingly strong caramel sweetness to its forward taste profile and a very nice, lingering finish. Aghast at this revelation, this very column took shape in my mind. I completely missed that the first time! Opinions can change.

I can explain my problem with the term “world’s best” with a short example. Remember the scene in the movie Elf with the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee”? Well … there you go. Of course, this New Riff product isn’t the best, but if you’ll recall from last week, I did say that it was quite good. And … it seems to be getting better with every new taste.

On a related note, while we’re discussing some tasting rules: Never, never … never buy an expensive whiskey without trying it first. Been there. Sometimes it works out great, many times not so much. I purchased a bottle of [name omitted] for $200 a couple of years ago solely on the basis of its name recognition and that it was aged 18 years. Absolutely horrible! Followed my rule and tried it on a couple more occasions, still horrible. Now it sits in the cabinet collecting dust. Maybe I’ll use it as a mixer … a $200 mixer.

I hope that by relating some of my tasting/buying errors that it will help you to avoid them. In the meantime, you, my bourbon friends, have my sincerest apologies for my recent mistake. For the price point and taste profile, New Riff’s Bottled in Bond is a winner.

I’m now off to re-try some other bottles that have been languishing in my liquor cabinet. Maybe I can find another lost gem that I banished to dustiness, or I’ll have some more mixers. Life is beautiful.

Until next time – cheers!

Jon Smyrnis is a lifelong Indianapolis area resident. He enjoys traveling, hiking, biking, kayaking, dining out, and, of course, fine cocktails and great bourbons.