We feel that New Riff is one of the best new distilleries in Kentucky. If you aren’t familiar with their whiskies, I assure you that you will be soon. This is the first time we’ve collaborated with them and it’s something we’ve been working on for the better part of a year…so it’s especially exciting to now have the actual bottles in the shop!

They are a new riff on an old tradition, that tradition or theme being Kentucky Bourbon. They are 100% Kentucky family owned, by a single family; they have no partners, no investors, no other shareholders. Founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, New Riff is led by a team of corporate refugees ranging from craft beer to politics and more. New Riff crafts a range of whiskeys—Bourbon, Rye, and eventually Malted Rye and a host of specialty recipes—as well as Kentucky Wild Gin. Their mission is simple: to someday be counted among the world’s great small distilleries. 

We couldn’t be happier with this pick and we feel that it holds up well to our past offerings. In fact, we are so happy with it and with the whole process that we are already looking to do another project with them sometime next year.

Here are some tasting notes so you know what you can expect if you pick up a bottle:

• On the nose: Clove and cinnamon bread toast.
• On the palate: Dark chocolate covered cherries and burnt orange.
• On the finish: Gentle and warming with notes of savory spice.