New Riff’s Third Headliner Release On Shelves Now
Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distillery has brought back its Headliner brand for a third year, this time a blend of three distinct whiskeys, all aged at least 10 years. Proceeds from the release will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati, and Tri-State Trails.
Headliner 2026 features a blend of 50% 11-year-old Malted Rye bourbon, 25% 11-year-old Rye and 25% 10-year-old Balboa Rye. It is the first Headliner release where every component is at least a decade old and marks New Riff’s first 50/50 bourbon and rye blend. The whiskey is bottled at cask strength, 118.8 proof.
“We always look forward to creating Headliner each year because it gives us a chance to step outside our everyday work and approach blending as a true creative exercise,” said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “It’s an opportunity to revisit some of our favorite whiskies from throughout the years and experiment with combinations we might not otherwise explore. We started with a lot of possibilities but kept coming back to three standout components. Maybe it’s no coincidence that some of our favorite punk bands only needed three members. This trio just worked, creating something exciting, distinctive, and driven by our way of doing things.”
The 2026 Headliner release is priced at $150 per bottle.
