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| New Riff Distilling | |
|---|---|
| Name | New Riff Distilling |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Fred Noe, John R. Woolf |
| Location | Newport, Kentucky, United States |
| Industry | Distilled spirits |
| Products | Bourbon whiskey, rye whiskey, vodka, gin |
New Riff Distilling New Riff Distilling is a craft distillery founded in Newport, Kentucky in 2014 that produces bourbon, rye, and other spirits, operating within the historic American whiskey tradition. The company has grown from a regional craft operation into a producer recognized alongside established names in Louisville, Lexington, Nashville, Cincinnati, and across the broader spirits market in the United States. It engages with institutions, events, and personalities in the distilling field while maintaining connections to Appalachian and Ohio River Valley heritage.
The founders established the distillery during a period of renewed interest in American whiskey exemplified by brands and entities such as Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey, Buffalo Trace, and Woodford Reserve. Early leadership drew on expertise associated with figures like Fred Noe and collaborations that echoed legacies linked to Noe family distilling heritage and families such as the Beam family and Weller family. New Riff opened production amid craft-distilling growth led by peers including Balcones Distilling, High West Distillery, Rittenhouse Rye producers, and regional counterparts like James E. Pepper Distillery and Michter's Distillery. The distillery's timeline intersects with legislative and market shifts influenced by stakeholders akin to Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and regulatory environments in states such as Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana.
New Riff's site in Newport occupies industrial heritage zones similar to redevelopment projects in Covington, Kentucky and alongside riverfront initiatives that recall urban renewal seen in Louisville Waterfront projects and preservation efforts like those at Bellevue Historic District. Its facilities contain mash tuns, fermenters, and stills reflecting equipment styles associated with manufacturers such as Vendome Copper & Brass Works and design approaches used by distillers including Hotaling & Co. and Germantown. The warehouse and rickhouse operations parallel storage practices at storied locations like Stitzel-Weller and Old Forester Distillery, while its visitor center situates New Riff among attractions such as The Kentucky Bourbon Trail and tourism sites including Museum Row (Lexington) and National Museum of American History-style exhibitioning.
New Riff produces bourbon and rye expressions that enter conversations alongside heritage bottlings from Old Forester, Eagle Rare, Pappy Van Winkle, Four Roses, and contemporary offerings from Angel's Envy and Stranahan's. Its labels include age-statement and non-age-statement releases comparable to series from Woodinville Whiskey Co. and Balcones, as well as limited editions like ones from Heaven Hill and collaborations reminiscent of projects between Jack Daniel's and guest distillers. Grain bills and mash recipes place its bourbons and ryes in context with products from Bulleit, Crown Royal, Sazerac Company brands, and craft labels such as WhistlePig and Smooth Ambler.
The distillation methodology integrates techniques employed across the American distilling scene, including fermentation, distillation in column or pot stills, and barrel aging in charred white oak barrels, paralleling practices at Maker's Mark, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill. The choice of yeast strains and sour mash practices aligns with approaches used by Old Rip Van Winkle-related operations and historic producers like Heaven Hill Distillery. Cooperage sourcing and barrel management mirror supply chains used by companies such as Independent Stave Company and cooperages that service Buffalo Trace and Four Roses. Maturation timelines and warehouse stacking methods reflect traditions seen at Stitzel-Weller and the wider Kentucky bourbon industry.
New Riff distributes through regional and national channels, operating within market frameworks shared by distributors and wholesalers such as Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, RNDC, and compliance regimes like those implemented in Kentucky and neighboring states. Retail presence places New Riff on shelves alongside brands sold by national chains such as Total Wine & More, independent retailers like K&L Wine Merchants, and specialty bars in cities including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Nashville, and Atlanta. The brand participates in spirits fairs and trade shows of the scale of Bar Convent Brooklyn, WhiskyFest, and events associated with organizations like Tales of the Cocktail.
New Riff has been evaluated by competitions and critics that include institutions and publications such as The Whisky Exchange, Wine Enthusiast, Whisky Advocate, Jim Murray-style reviewers, and contests like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirit Competition. Its expressions have earned medals and citations that place it in the company of recognized producers such as Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and Woodford Reserve. Industry recognition situates New Riff within conversations at trade bodies resembling the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and awards panels convened by organizations like Beverage Testing Institute.
The distillery engages with local civic, cultural, and educational partners similar to collaborations seen between distillers and institutions such as Northern Kentucky University, University of Kentucky, The Covington Business Council, and community development groups like Newport on the Levee revitalization efforts. Sustainability measures and waste-stream initiatives follow models adopted by producers like St. George Spirits and Balcones, addressing byproducts management, water use, and energy efficiency practices paralleled by larger firms such as Brown-Forman and Beam Suntory. Philanthropic and outreach activities align with local festivals, historical societies, and tourism promotion entities akin to Kentucky Bourbon Trail partners.
Category:Distilleries in Kentucky