New Riff Distilling in Newport, Kentucky — just across the river from Cincinnati — was founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a veteran of the liquor retail business who understood exactly what bourbon drinkers wanted and what the market lacked. Every whiskey New Riff produces is bottled in bond — at 100 proof, at least four years old, from a single distilling season — a commitment to the highest standard in American whiskey that larger producers often reserve for their premium releases.
The Single Barrel Bourbon uses a high-rye mash bill — 65% corn, 30% rye, 5% malted barley — that gives it a spicy, peppery character more assertive than the sweeter, corn-heavy bourbons that dominate the market. At four years old, the whiskey is young by some standards, but the active Kentucky climate and the quality of the distillation have produced a spirit with more depth and integration than many bourbons twice its age.
New Riff represents the best of American craft distilling — a producer that competes with the major Kentucky houses on quality rather than novelty. The commitment to bottled-in-bond standards, single barrel selection, and an honest, no-compromise approach to production has earned New Riff a reputation that far exceeds its modest size. At its price, this is one of the best-value craft bourbons available. A distillery already punching well above its weight.
