Distileri

New Riff Distilling

Kentucky, United States · 2014'den beri

New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014 in Newport, Kentucky, sitting just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. The brainchild of Ken Lewis, the distillery was built from the ground up with a clear vision: to craft honest, additive-free American whiskey rooted in Kentucky tradition yet unafraid to challenge convention. One of its defining commitments is to sweet mash fermentation — a departure from the industry-dominant sour mash process — which lends the whiskeys a distinctive grain-forward clarity. New Riff leans heavily on high-rye mash bills for both its bourbon and rye expressions, producing spirits with a bold, spicy backbone balanced by rich caramel and orchard fruit notes. The distillery's steadfast dedication to the Bottled in Bond standard — at least four years of aging, 100 proof, single distillery — speaks to a philosophy that prizes transparency and patience over shortcuts. Since opening, New Riff has earned critical acclaim and a devoted following, proving that a young Kentucky distillery can stand shoulder to shoulder with legacy names through quality and integrity alone.