High N’ Wicked Straight Rye Whiskey
High N' Wicked Straight Rye Whiskey is a 98.2-proof (49.1% ABV) Kentucky straight rye, aged 5 years in seasoned, medium-toast, new #4-char American white oak barrels and distilled at New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky. The current flagship runs a 91% rye / 9% malted barley mash bill through a three-day open-top sour mash fermentation and a full all-copper distillation path, then skips chill filtration — the 98.2-proof bottling strength was, per the brand, "determined after rigorous testing" as the favorite of bartenders and industry professionals. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 49.1% (98.2 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 5 years, new #4-char American white oak (medium toast, seasoned)
- Origin: Kentucky, USA — distilled at New Riff Distilling, Newport, KY; Kentucky limestone-aquifer water
- Production: 91% rye / 9% malted barley; 3-day open-top sour mash; non-chill filtered; brand of Altamar Brands
A Rye Built by Bartender Vote
High N' Wicked is a brand of Altamar Brands, but the whiskey is pure New Riff: Kentucky limestone water, open-top sour mash, and an all-copper still path — the same Newport, Kentucky distillery behind some of the most respected ryes of the last decade. Rather than picking a round proof, the brand blind-vetted the bottling strength with bartenders and industry professionals and landed on 98.2 — an unusual number that signals exactly how this rye was developed: by people who pour for a living. Taste it next to the High N' Wicked range and the rest of our rye whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: caramelized apples and peaches, dark cherries, orange peel, baking spices — cinnamon, clove, a hint of allspice. Palate: full and layered with bold character — fresh cracked black peppercorns, dark cocoa, white pepper, a touch of dill. Finish: apple, peach, dark cocoa, and nutmeg — clean, vibrant, lingering.
How to Enjoy
Neat to appreciate the non-chill-filtered texture, or in a Manhattan where the 98.2 proof stands up to vermouth. It is a bartender's rye by design — build a sazerac or old fashioned and taste why the trade voted for this proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mash bill of High N' Wicked rye?
The current flagship is 91% rye / 9% malted barley — note this is an updated formulation; an older 90-proof SKU used a different mash bill.
Where is High N' Wicked distilled?
At New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky, using Kentucky limestone-aquifer water.
Is it chill filtered?
No — it is non-chill filtered, bottled at 98.2 proof.
Distilled at New Riff, proofed by bartender vote — order High N' Wicked Straight Rye online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.