New Riff Distilling’s CEO Ken Lewis Steps Down in 2024: A Legacy of Innovation and Trailblazing
Ken Lewis, the CEO, founder, and co-owner of the esteemed American distillery, New Riff Distilling, has revealed his intention to retire in the year 2024. This announcement comes after a half-century long commitment to the beverage alcohol industry.
Revolutionizing the US Beverage Retail Scene
Widely recognized and respected in the American spirits arena, Lewis has spent his 50-year long career working to bring revolutionary changes to the US beverage retail scene. His contributions have included significant changes to Sunday liquor trading laws in Kentucky and a successful advocacy for distilleries to sell their products on-site.
Transition and Succession Plan
In 2024, which is also the 10th anniversary of New Riff, Lewis will retire. The distillery, over the past decade, has established its reputation as a trailblazer in American whiskey. Stepping into Lewis’ shoes as the new CEO of New Riff will be Hannah Lowen, currently the vice president of operations. Other subsequent role transitions include Lewis’ daughter, Mollie Lewis, who presently serves as New Riff’s director of sales, ascending to the position of company president, and Denny Gorman, the current director of engineering and logistics, being promoted to COO.
Exclusively Disclosed Retirement Announcement
Reflecting on his journey, Lewis said, “New Riff has always been about innovation. It has been a journey of growing, exploring, and pioneering in the whiskey space. It’s time now for a new chapter at New Riff. Though it’s tough to leave, I am excited for the future and for celebrating the distillery’s forthcoming achievements. The team taking over gives me the confidence to step back.”
A Journey of Innovation and Social Consciousness
Lewis embarked on his journey in the alcohol industry when he was given an opportunity by his father to manage a small liquor store business at the age of 24. From there, he never looked back and became a pillar of innovation in the beverage alcohol realm.
His venture, the retailer Liquor Outlet, which later evolved into The Party Source, reinvented the market by focusing on social gatherings and integrating non-alcoholic products and party supplies into the store layout. For his distillery project, Lewis made a groundbreaking decision by selling The Party Source to his employees through a stock ownership plan.
This socially conscious ethos has been maintained at New Riff, which provides its employees with a traditional pension plan, a benefit rarely seen today. “Values and company culture are dear to me,” Lewis stated. “New Riff is a 100% family-owned business and will continue to be. It ensures our independence and allows us to focus on more than just profits, sharing our success with our devoted employees, and staying true to our values.
Career employees dedicate their best years to the company, and we are committed to taking care of them during their retirement. My life finds purpose in these values — a life centered only on personal gain would feel empty.”
New Riff’s Distillery Project and Future Plans
New Riff, founded in 2014 in Newport, Kentucky, sought to inject new ideas into traditional whiskey-making techniques. It maintains historical standards, including Kentucky’s sour mash process and the bottled-in-bond regulations. Today, New Riff’s whiskeys are accessible in 31 states, either via retail outlets or direct-to-consumer shipping. The distillery expanded its production capacity by 50% in 2021, and a new barrel warehouse was introduced in 2023. Future plans include enhancing visitor experience and expanding the on-site bar, The Aquifer.
