Review: Three Chord Riot Double Bonded and Flipside Triple Wood
Founded in 2017 by legendary musician Neil Giraldo, Three Chord Bourbon has always indeed struck a chord between music and whiskey. From its inception, the brand has drawn deep inspiration from the rhythms, stories, and soul of music culture. One of Three Chord’s most notable achievements was the Backstage Series, a project that brought together artists and bands to collaborate with master blender Ari Sussman. Together, they created custom blends that were as unique as the musicians behind them.
In 2025, Three Chord turned the volume up once again—reimagining its visual identity with a completely new bottle shape and label design. This evolution signaled a fresh chapter in the brand’s mission to merge craft whiskey with musical artistry. At the heart of this creative spirit is Ari Sussman, who prefers the title “whiskey maker” over blender. Known for his unconventional approach and fearless experimentation, Sussman continues to challenge the norms of traditional whiskey blending.
Three Chord shared samples of two of Sussman’s latest creations: Flipside Triple Wood and Riot Double Bonded — each a bold expression of the boundary-pushing philosophy that defines the brand.
Three Chord Riot Double Bonded Review
Riot Double Bonded grabs your attention the moment you hear the name — and that’s exactly the point. Approved by the TTB as a bottled in bond rye whiskey, Riot is openly sourced from two different distilleries, pushing the very boundaries of what bottled in bond can be.
When Jack Daniel’s released its Triple Mash in May 2022 — a blend of three bottled in bond whiskeys from a single distillery—it raised eyebrows. But Three Chord, true to form, went further. Partnering with both Bardstown Bourbon Company and MGP, Ari Sussman lobbied the TTB to approve a blend of ryes from two states as a legitimate bottled in bond whiskey. The move was unconventional, even controversial — traditionalists might hear the news and start the gnashing of teeth — but Sussman shot his shot, and the TTB didn’t blink.
If “double bonded” rubs you the wrong way, take it up with the TTB. In keeping with the bonded standard, the label transparently lists the names and DSPs of both distilleries, with no corners cut. Both ryes share the same mashbill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley, aged between four and seven years, and bottled without chill filtration. The result? A rye with swagger, structure, and a little bit of snarl — just like the band featured on the label: The Darts.
With their raw, garage-punk vibe and “stuck in your head” energy, The Darts are the perfect face of this whiskey. Their spirit is all over this bottle — from the rebellious blend to the bold design. Sussman didn’t just bend the rules — he broke them with rhythm. Riot Double Bonded isn’t just a whiskey; it’s a statement. Loud, defiant, and impossible to ignore. However, with all of the defiance, is it good?
The nose opens with bright lemon essential oil and brown sugar. The initial citrus punch shifts into cedarwood and French vanilla coffee, offering a slightly earthy and roasted character. On the palate, Riot delivers toasted almonds and orange peel, including the pith, which brings a noticeable bitterness. The orange quickly deepens into smoked paprika and white pepper, adding spice and edge. The mouthfeel is pleasantly oily, carrying the flavors evenly.
The finish is unusually long, marked by allspice, mild tobacco, and a trace of leather. As it settles, tannic notes gradually fade into a clean menthol quality that lingers well after the sip.
At $50, Ari Sussman has put together a rye whiskey that stands up well in both concept and execution. Riot Double Bonded offers enough complexity to satisfy seasoned drinkers, while remaining accessible for those newer to whiskey—especially music fans intrigued by the bottle’s backstory. For anyone curious about the idea of a double bonded blend, it’s a solid and worthwhile purchase. 100 proof. B+ / $50
Three Chord Flipside Triple Wood Review
Flipside Triple Wood Kentucky Straight Bourbon is built on a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley—a recipe often associated with MGP in Indiana, though it’s also distilled by several Kentucky distilleries, including Green River, Barton 1792, and Bardstown Bourbon Company. For this release, Three Chord blended bourbons aged between four and seven years before finishing them over a 2 to 3 month period. The finishing process involved a combination of new and used toasted barrels made from both French and American oak.
The label artwork pays tribute to blues icon Guitar Shorty, whose high-energy performances and innovative style left a lasting impact on legends like Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy.
The nose opens with a strong burst of vanilla bean ice cream. After the vanilla settles, aromas of Italian almond cookies and toffee follow, bringing a sweeter profile to the forefront.
On the palate, the experience turns darker, beginning with chocolate-covered espresso beans. As it develops, flavors of oatmeal cookies and mace appear, adding more character. The mouthfeel at this stage feels flat and lacking in structure. There’s an expectation of something more assertive, but it never quite arrives in the early moments. However, the mouthfeel improves on the finish. Nutmeg and coffee bring a sharper presence, followed by burnt brown sugar and cinnamon bark, which help close things out on a stronger note.
As someone who typically enjoys Ari Sussman’s work, Flipside Triple Wood doesn’t quite hold up to the standard of his other blends. The finish is enjoyable, but the dull early palate is difficult to overlook. That said, at $35, it may still appeal to music fans curious about the concept. For seasoned whiskey drinkers, though, it’s likely not a standout purchase. 90 proof. B- / $35
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