Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Goes Bottled In Bond
New Riff Distilling, a Northern Kentucky distillery offering a new riff on American whiskey, today announces the release of its Bourbon that has been patiently aging for four years. Distilled by an expert beer brewer-turned-distiller, New Riff Bourbon will be available in spirits retail stores, bars and restaurants beginning in Fall 2018 (SRP $39.99/750 ml).
Bottled in Bond at 100 proof (50% ABV) without chill filtration, New Riff Bourbon embraces the ultimate quality benchmark for the category. A genuinely high-rye, full-bodied whiskey with a savory, spicy character, its mash bill is 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley, all non-GMO.
A Sensorial Symphony with Notes of Butterscotch, Rye Spice, Vanilla and Fruits
New Riff Bourbon entices with an aroma of butterscotch that rounds into fresh oak, with hints of vanilla and rye spice. On the palate, its broad, fulsome mouthfeel leads to a sweeter vanilla accent, before a melding of clove, cinnamon, mint and dark berries. Its long, rye-led finish is replete with brambly red-black fruits amid white pepper and clove.
“Bottled in Bond is the highest quality standard for aged spirits in the world,” said Ken Lewis, Founder, New Riff Distilling. “Rather than reserve it for special or limited releases, it is the signature of our Bourbon. Moreover, we are taking the standard one step further by eliminating chill filtration to ensure that not a single molecule of flavor is sacrificed. We are firmly grounded in Kentucky’s revered Bourbon tradition, but this is very much our own riff.”
“At New Riff Distilling, we uphold the hallowed Kentucky Regimen with open fermentation, sour mashing and distillation on grain,” said Jay Erisman, Co-Founder and V.P. of Strategic Development, New Riff Distilling. “Our stills are all copper, from our 60-foot column still to our doubler, and the whiskey is aged only in 53-gallon new oak barrels that are toasted and charred. New Riff Bourbon is truly a distillation of who we are as people.”
Embracing Bottled in Bond, a Watchword for Quality, and Going Beyond
New Riff Distilling’s Bourbon is Bottled in Bond, meaning the whiskey was made in a single distillation season by a single distillery. It must be aged for a minimum of 4 years in a bonded warehouse, and be bottled at exactly 100 proof; no flavors or colors may be added, and the whiskey must remain unchanged from the barrel except for filtration, which is permitted.
This is in accordance with the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which was enacted by Congress to stop the rampant adulteration of American whiskey at the time. It has since become a watchword for quality, since blending is prohibited and the distiller’s skills are in full view.
In light of all the regulatory requirements, many producers reserve Bottled in Bond for only select whiskeys in their portfolio. New Riff Distilling has chosen to make it its baseline. Moreover, it is adding its own quality guarantee, namely “Without Chill Filtration.” This ensures that nothing is removed from the Bourbon, not even through filtration, retaining all the aroma, flavor, texture and color.
