Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
New Riff Distilling
Kort om destilleriet
New Riff Distilling is a family-owned distillery in Newport, Kentucky, founded in 2014. The distillery combines Kentucky bourbon tradition with an independent approach by distilling, aging and bottling all own spirits on-site. New Riff works with Bottled-In-Bond standards, bottle bottling without chill filtration and offers a core selection of bourbon and rye as well as an active Single Barrel program and guided visiting experiences.
Historie
Ken Lewis founded New Riff in 2014 with the aim of reimagining Northern Kentucky as a serious bourbon destination. Since its establishment, the company has maintained its independent, family-run structure and built its own facilities for distillation, aging and bottling. After ten years of operation, New Riff reports that its products are distributed in all 50 U.S. states and in international markets, a mark of growth and reach. In 2026 the distillery was honored with the title World’s Best Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards, a recognition of the focus on quality and craftsmanship that has characterized the company from the start.
Råvarer og produktion
New Riff carries out the entire production chain on its own premises: they distill, age and bottle their spirits in Newport. The West Newport Campus houses the rickhouse and bottling line, where aging and bottling operations take place. As part of their process, New Riff works within Bottled-In-Bond standards and practices bottling without chill filtration. The distillery also offers the public near-production experiences, such as Barrel Proof Tour, Blend Experiences and Single Barrel Selection, where customers can choose from selected barrels ranging from 90 bottles up to a full barrel.
Modning og fadtyper
The whiskies mature in the rickhouses at the West Newport Campus, where aging, cask handling and bottling are integrated. The distillery highlights the possibility of single barrel selection through their Single Barrel Selection and demonstrates the role of the casks in product development through experiences such as Barrel Proof Tour and Blend Experiences.
Whiskyer
New Riff's portfolio covers classic Kentucky categories with a focus on bourbon and rye as well as single malt. The core range includes Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon and Bottled-In-Bond Rye as well as age-stated single barrel expressions (4 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon and Rye) and longer-aged bottles such as 8 Year Old Bourbon, 8 Year Old Rye and 6 Year Old Malted Rye. The assortment is complemented by visiting experiences and Single Barrel Selection options.
| Whisky | Type / Series | Age | Tasting Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Riff Bottled In Bond Bourbon | Bourbon | Current; Core Range | ||
| New Riff Bottled In Bond Rye | Rye | Current; Core Range | ||
| New Riff 4 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon | Bourbon | 4 Year | Single barrel expression available through Single Barrel Selection. | Current; Core Range |
| New Riff 4 Year Old Single Barrel Rye | Rye | 4 Year | Single barrel rye available via Single Barrel Selection. | Current; Core Range |
| New Riff 8 Year Old Bourbon | Bourbon | 8 Year | Current; Core Range | |
| New Riff 8 Year Old Rye | Rye | 8 Year | Current; Core Range | |
| New Riff 6 Year Old Malted Rye | Rye | 6 Year | Current; Core Range |
Besøg destilleriet
New Riff offers a range of visiting experiences in Newport. The West Newport Campus (24 Distillery Way) houses the rickhouse, bottling line and historic tasting room and is available for tours, experiences or appointments. The distillery also has an address at 1104 Lowell Street, which welcomes visitors by appointment or as part of booked tours. Guests can visit the gift shop, book guided tours, participate in tastings and private events. Parking is free at the building, and the facilities are ADA accessible. Advance booking is required for tours/experiences.
Filosofi og håndværk
New Riff highlights independence and family-owned ownership as core values, which provide freedom to pursue production choices without external pressure. The quality principle is manifested in the use of Bottled-In-Bond standards and in the decision to bottle without chill filtration. The company also engages locally through the New Riff Works initiative.
Priser og anerkendelser
- World’s Best Bourbon (2026, Winner)