At New Riff, we follow what we call the Kentucky Regimen: a time-honored tradition of sour mash, open fermentation, copper column distillation, and doubler – a method that has made Kentucky whiskey great for generations. This is the lens through which we make all of our whiskey, honoring Kentucky legacy while crafting spirits that reflect our own standards of quality and character.
A time-honored tradition: we reincorporate part of a previous batch for consistency & depth.
Our whiskey ferments in open tanks, inviting natural microflora unique to our distillery.
Distillation on the grain through our 60 foot copper column still.
A second distillation to refine the spirit and raise its proof before it goes into the barrel, enhancing flavor and building character.
The cycle continues, ensuring every drop reflects Kentucky’s proud whiskey heritage.
The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 was a turning point for American whiskey. For the first time, Kentucky distillers demanded transparency and created legal protections for the best whiskey. Even today, Bottled In Bond stands among the strictest quality benchmarks in the world. At New Riff, we don’t save it for special releases. Many of the whiskies we make are Bottled In Bond. It’s our statement, our commitment, and our refusal to ever take shortcuts in crafting whiskey of the highest quality.
The highest quality standard in the world is not high enough for us: we take that standard one step further by bottling everything without chill filtration to ensure that not a single molecule of flavor is sacrificed for cosmetic appearances.
Bourbon begins with water, and ours comes from a limestone-rich aquifer directly beneath our distillery. We set out to look for a water source with a little more character than the municipal supply and found it under our own feet: a private well drilled 100 feet down, drawing water with up to four times the dissolved minerals of typical municipal sources.
At a steady 58°F year-round, this aquifer is perfectly suited for fermentation. Yeast loves minerals, and this water is practically waiting to be made into bourbon. It’s where our whiskey’s full body and rich texture begin, and what makes New Riff unmistakably New Riff.
Barrel Aging
New Riff currently has barrels aging across three warehouses, where the changing seasons and the unique climate of each rickhouse help shape the whiskey inside. We hold back roughly a third of everything we make for extended aging, letting time and temperature work their magic.
Traditional rickhouse that holds up to 18,000 barrels.
Palletized warehouse that holds up to 18,000 barrels.
Palletized warehouse that holds up to 40,000 barrels.
After more than a decade shaping New Riff from the inside out as Head Distiller we proudly named Brian Sprance Master Distiller. Trained by Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famer Larry Ebersold and grounded in a deep background in brewing, Brian carries forward the time-honored Kentucky Regimen while bringing curiosity and creativity to every mashbill. His brewing roots fuel both discipline and innovation, honoring the great Bourbon makers of the past while continuing to play our own riff.
How Would You Like to Buy?
*Due to state regulations, we are unable to sell or ship spirits directly to certain states. Availability and shipping options may vary based on your location. Please check local laws before placing an order.
