Newport distillery returns with high marks from prestigious competition
Newport, KY (April 12, 2022)
The spirits might be new riffs on old traditions, but New Riff Distilling is making a new tradition out of medaling at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In the 2022 awards announced today, New Riff earned 10 medals including one Double Gold — the highest ranking — and nine Gold medals.
“For us at New Riff, SFWSC is not only the most prestigious spirits competition in the world — it is our annual measuring stick, a chance for our yet-young distillery to go up against the best in the world from the toughest judges,” said co-founder Jay Erisman. “When the entire portfolio wins Gold Medals, we know we’re on the right track!”
New Riff Distilling’s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled in Bond received a Double Gold award and will be featured at The Aquifer, the distillery’s tasting bar.
Spirits receiving gold medals include New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel; New Riff Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel; New Riff Balboa Rye; New Riff Malted Rye; New Riff Red Turkey Wheated; New Riff Malted Wheat “Maltster”; New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin; and New Riff Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled.
Founded in 2000, the SFWSC is one of the world’s most respected spirits competitions. During the competition, blind tastings are conducted by a thoughtfully curated list of judges, each with a seasoned, trusted palate.
Medal winners range from the most renowned international distillers to small-batch producers. Earning an SFWSC award is a testament to hard work and an indicator of the highest caliber of quality. Visit sfspiritscomp.com to review the complete list of 2022 results.
New Riff (Newport, KY):
Kentucky born and urban bred, New Riff is an independently-owned distillery in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. The Newport, Ky., distillery produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin. Bourbon and rye are made with traditional sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond without chill filtration. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program. New Riff sources its water from an aquifer under the distillery, accessed via a 100’ deep private well and providing water with four times as much dissolved minerals than found in other water supplies. New Riff believes in transparency, so all products feature an age statement and the mashbills are public. The modern venue hosts a variety of events and offers an on-site bar, The Aquifer.
