New Riff Distillery celebrates its renovations with the public featuring a pop-up bar and live music on Saturday, July 29. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nky
One of Northern Kentucky’s largest distilleries showcased their recently renovated first floor to excited members of the public.
Newport’s New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014 by spirits entrepreneur Ken Lewis. Since the distillery’s construction, it hadn’t undergone any significant physical alterations. Chief Operating Officer Hannah Lowen told LINK nky last week that as the distillery became a more popular tourist attraction, their first-floor space would often get overcrowded.
“As our reputation has grown, there’s more tourists in the area coming to Northern Kentucky,” Lowen said. “On a Saturday, if you were in here and you’re trying to buy a bottle or get a drink or go on a tour, it was really crowded. We knew we needed to update what we were doing.”
In March, New Riff kicked off a $3 million renovation project that would transform both their first and third floors. Their first floor gift shop and tasting bar would be overhauled with the goal being to create a unique and welcoming environment for spirits tourists upon entering the distillery.
On Saturday, New Riff hosted a grand opening that officially unveiled their upgraded gift shop, outdoor patio and new tasting bar. The larger gift shop and offers exclusive bottles, as well as shirts, hats, stickers, ornaments and more. Anything Airbrushed Plus was on hand creating air brushed t-shirts while award-winning food truck Red Sesame served Korean sliders.
LINK nky photographer Abigail Shoyat was on hand to capture the grand opening festivities.
New Riff Distillery celebrates its renovations with the public featuring a pop-up bar and live music on Saturday, July 29. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyNew Riff’s Silver Grove Whiskey can be purchased at their distillery in Newport, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Silver Grove Community Foundation. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyAnything Airbrushed Plus designs merchandise for the New Riff event. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyArnold pours the last glass offered in the tasting. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyCustomers enjoy the outdoor pop-up bar. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyAccording to their website, New Riff is “inspired by the great Bourbon makers of the past and the wider tradition in Kentucky,” and adds its own riff of ingenuity to this history. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyKentucky bourbon enthusiasts can bring their food guides to mark their visit to the distillery. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyThe newly renovated gift shop includes clothing and glassware in addition to its offerings of bourbon and whiskey. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nkyOn the second floor, Grover Arnold leads a guided tasting. Experiences including tastings and tours can be booked on their website https://www.newriffdistilling.com/. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nky
A visitor of the distillery takes part in the guided tasting. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nky
The fourth liquor in the tasting is inspired by Silver Grove, a whiskey distilled in Cincinnati before prohibition. It is New Riff’s first blend to be produced at barrel proof. Photo by Abigail Shoyat | LINK nky
