Blue North, a Northern Kentucky entrepreneurial resource and advocacy organization, is launching its own limited edition bourbon with one of the region’s most iconic distilleries.
The Entrepreneurial Spark was created by Newport-based New Riff Distilling. The proceeds from bottle sales will raise money for the Northern Kentucky Entrepreneurship Fund.
The NKY Entrepreneur Fund supports Northern Kentucky-based entrepreneurs and organizations, including startups, support organizations, educational vehicles and accelerators. The fund’s inaugural initiative, launched in 2023, was a partnership with Cincinnati-based Main Street Ventures.
“At New Riff, we’ve always believed in the power of entrepreneurship to shape and
strengthen our community – it’s the same spirit that drives everything we do,” New Riff Distilling President Mollie Lewis said in a press release. “We’re proud to support local entrepreneurs and the NKY Entrepreneur Fund with this collaboration, celebrating the innovation and determination that make Northern Kentucky and New Riff so unique.”
The bottle features a blue label that ties into the signature Blue North color palette. Furthermore, the name Entrepreneurial Spark pays homage to SparkHaus, a centrally located office hub for startups, investment firms and entrepreneurial support organizations in downtown Covington.
“Northern Kentucky is home to a diverse group of innovators and through the
NKY Entrepreneur Fund, we have been able to support entrepreneurial sparks ranging from autonomous robots and AI startups to hot sauce and high protein desserts,” Blue North Executive Director Dave Knox said in the release. “We are extremely thankful for the support of New Riff to support our mission and the efforts of their fellow entrepreneurs.”
The inaugural Entrepreneurial Spark release is bottled at barrel proof — 113.1 Proof /
56.55% — with 388 bottles produced. The bourbon is 6 years old at will cost $59.99. Half of all sales from each bottle will go to the Northern Kentucky Entrepreneur Fund.
Bottles will go on sale on Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. and will be available at the New Riff
Gift Shop and online.