New Riff

New Riff was founded in 2014 by Jay Erisman and Ken Lewis, who used to run a large liquor store together called The Party Source. Working with many bourbon distilleries, the pair decided that it would be a great idea to make their own – and it was! Located in northern Kentucky, it continues to pride itself on being independent and family-owned, and runs a rye-centric operation, consuming around 25% more rye than corn on a yearly basis. Not too common in Kentucky! New Riff has also committed itself to releasing Bottled in Bond whiskeys (which must be produced at the same distillery by the same distiller within the same distilling season) and everything it makes is sour mash. Serendipitously there was an aquifer underneath where they chose to build the distillery which is fed by limestone deposits, which they use as their water source. The distillery regularly releases single barrel editions of its bourbon and rye, while also using its whiskey barrels to age its gin in.