New Riff Distilling Shakes Up Whiskey Tradition with Revolutionary Sour Mash Single Malt
Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling is shaking up the whiskey world with its inaugural release of Sour Mash Single Malt Whiskey. Born in Newport, this distillery started crafting malt whiskey back in 2014 and teased the industry with hints of this groundbreaking release earlier this year. It’s not your average spirit; this whiskey is a concoction of five distinct recipes, each crafted between 2014 and 2016.
Co-founder Jay Erisman describes it as a paradox: “It’s a radical departure from anything we’ve done before, yet it’s completely in line with our ethos—putting a fresh twist on traditional whiskey-making through the lens of sour mashing.”
This isn’t a one-note whiskey. Six different mash bills, each a unique blend of malted barleys and an array of cask types, contribute to its complexity. From Golden Promise to Scottish peated barley malt, and from barley wine to Belgian quadrupel-inspired mash bills, New Riff is pushing boundaries. The finishing casks? Think new charred oak, red wine, Portuguese brandy, and sherry-seasoned oak.
Erisman touts the whiskey’s robust body and mouthfeel, the result of sour mashing and column still distillation—techniques more commonly seen in Kentucky’s bourbon country. “American single malt is a burgeoning scene, and even within that, New Riff’s Sour Mash Single Malt stands out as a compelling and intricate player,” he adds.
Launching this October at an RRP of US$69.99, the cask-strength elixir is unfiltered and will be sold at New Riff’s Newport location as well as select nationwide retailers.
