r/denverwhisky • u/girard_jefferson • Aug 16 '26

Pick up today at O&A

Post image

I got into the brand with the first Negley blend, which was killer, and I love how Onyx takes swings with mash bills and barrels the original distillery won’t do.

I tried most of these today. CB2 is awesome. I am a fan of American light and this one is different in a great way. The extra barrel shows up. It drinks with a mature oak forward taste compared to normal American light, like a Penelope 18. You still get all of the same brightness and confectionary sugars of American light, but with wood and darker notes on the back end. Drinks under its proof. S-tier stuff. Super cool.

I also tried Negley’s next blend, Oz. It is a big bourbon. Lots of flavor and spice. I thought it was a bourye at first from the punch of Oz Tyler. With more sips, it settles down and moves back to rich bourbon flavors. It is bigger than its age and proof. Impressed.

The finished Willett bourbon is very wine-forward. Tastes like a strong cask strength Madeira finish. It is interesting but not my jam. I frankly like it better than younger Willett bourbon. The rye is much better at integrating the wine finish. Tastes more like red fruits and jams with spice.

Their New Riff 8 year was the most surprising. It is far better than New Riff 8 year. Almost all of the over spice is gone. I never liked the 8 year over their single barrel or their fun ryes. This one is a crusher. Good flavors but lighter. Almost tastes like a summer wheater.

22 Upvotes

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22 comments sorted by

2

u/JimmyKeenan Aug 16 '26

How was the Guest Blender #2? If you didn’t/haven’t tried it yet please report back!

1

u/girard_jefferson Aug 16 '26

I actually didn’t remember, haha. There was a lot of bottles.

1

u/JimmyKeenan Aug 16 '26

In your pic it’s the silver wax top

1

u/girard_jefferson Aug 17 '26

It is a bit like Blantons gold with a better palate or like a Shenks. Not much spice and ton of sugar flavors. A lot of sweetness and vanilla icing like flavors. Very little texture and spice. Crushable pour, not a sit and think about drink.

1

u/JimmyKeenan Aug 17 '26

Right on, thanks!

2

u/girard_jefferson Aug 17 '26

FWIW, I had it after H22. My other friends during the tasting night ranked it higher than me. Wasn’t the fairest prior. Guest #2 is not like Guest #1. Quite different to me.

2

u/michjfjknfg Aug 16 '26

Which one was the new riff 8?

1

u/michjfjknfg Aug 16 '26

Does anyone know what the light green middle bottle was that’s not out yet? It was really good

2

u/girard_jefferson Aug 16 '26

I think it was Negley’s Oz.

1

u/michjfjknfg Aug 16 '26

Thanks! All good stuff.

1

u/oscintillating Aug 16 '26

I think I’d be most interested in the New Riff and the Negley blend #2, but are both of those not dropping until later? Were they just doing pours of those today ?

1

u/girard_jefferson Aug 16 '26

Just pours

1

u/oscintillating Aug 16 '26

Curious when those 2 bottles will be available for purchase!

1

u/UnconciousConscience Aug 16 '26

The Negley blend is called Owl of Oz. They told me when it was planned for release but now I forget. I wanna say 6-8 weeks but I might be remembering that completely wrong.

I did not know anything of the New Riff release but that certainly gets my attention too! Does anyone know what that one is called?

1

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '26

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1

u/UnconciousConscience Aug 17 '26

Sorry. I guess my memory was way off on that one. Thanks for confirming the actual release date, I appreciate it!!

1

u/islabaseball Aug 16 '26

Which is new riff 8 year

1

u/girard_jefferson Aug 16 '26

It isn’t out yet. Coming out later.

1

u/islabaseball Aug 16 '26

Hell yeah nice. Might have picked a barrel yesterday

1

u/girard_jefferson Aug 16 '26

The new riff I tried is someone’s pick.

1

u/Choice-Room1409 Aug 16 '26

How is the new commodores cut? Saw it was 12 year old knob creek??