The spirits might be new riffs on old traditions, but New Riff Distilling is making a new tradition out of winning award. Newport-based New Riff Distillery earned 10 medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
“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.
New Riff is an independently owned distillery in Northern Kentucky. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. Its Newport, KY, distillery produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin.
Founded in 2000, the SFWSC is one of the world’s preeminent spirits competitions. During the competition, blind tastings are conducted by a curated list of judges, each with a advanced palate.
