Prestige-Ledroit Distributing announced in August its appointment as the exclusive Mid-Atlantic distributor for Newport, Kentucky-based New Riff Distilling, producer of New Riff Whiskeys.
The partnership aligns both companies by combining the strength of Prestige-Ledroit’s Mid-Atlantic relationships and the New Riff’s selection of dynamic whiskeys.
Founded in 2014 by Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, New Riff is led by a team of corporate refugees ranging from craft beer to politics and more. New Riff crafts a range of whiskeys—Bourbon, Rye, and Malted Rye and a host of specialty recipes—as well as Kentucky Wild Gin. With a simple mission: to someday be counted among the world’s great small distilleries. Creating a New Riff on an Old Tradition.
Chris Schmid, SVP at Prestige-Ledroit, “New Riff set out to put a new riff on an old tradition and they have done exactly that. Their handmade whiskeys, while entirely modern, are deeply rooted in tradition. Utilizing some forgotten historic production methods to create compelling whiskeys with an ever growing and cult-like following. In a very short time they have significantly contributed to the landscape of Kentucky distilleries and it is abundantly clear that they are not slowing down. We are thrilled to represent them in the Mid-Atlantic and bring their whiskeys to a very eager marketplace.”
Kentucky born and urban bred, New Riff is an independently-owned distillery in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country. In 2014, founder Ken Lewis, a visionary Kentucky liquor retailer and entrepreneur, saw a need for a new riff on an old tradition when it came to Kentucky bourbon. The Newport, Ky., distillery produces bourbon, rye and Kentucky Wild Gin. Bourbon and rye are made with traditional sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond without chill filtration. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program. New Riff sources its water from an aquifer under the distillery, accessed via a 100’ deep private well and providing water with four times as much dissolved minerals than found in other water supplies. New Riff believes in transparency, so all products feature an age statement and the mashbills are public. The modern venue hosts a variety of events and offers an on-site bar, The Aquifer.