Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling earned a coveted spot on Whisky Advocate’s top 20 list of the best whiskies of 2019.
The annual list is compiled by reviewers from whisky-based publication Whisky Advocate and highlights the best bottles of the year.
“These include rare and extremely limited releases, as well as new and emerging labels — including New Riff, one of the newest distilleries on the list — that will find their way to shelves across the nation,” a press release from New Riff’s PR team states.
The chosen whisky, New Riff’s bottled in bond, straight rye whisky, was the only straight rye on the list, coming in at No. 17.
The rye features a mashbill of 95 percent rye and 5 percent malted rye, which is a twist from the traditional rye mashbill, giving it a unique flavor profile that stands out from the rest.
Whisky Advocate’s Susannah Skiver Barton describes the ranking bourbon as such:
“Complex and compelling, it shows maturity while retaining liveliness and verve. Grassy and herbal on the nose, it also has orange, cedar, sassafras, rose petals, and syrupy blackberries. The medium-weight palate balances clove, cedar oil, orange, berries, bubble gum, and cinnamon, which melt into an herbaceous, nutty, chocolate-rich finish. The patient drinker is rewarded, as aromas and flavors develop beautifully in the glass.”
“We take great pride in every spirit we distill at New Riff, knowing that every step of the process is done with utmost integrity,” said Ken Lewis, founder of New Riff Distilling, in the release. “To be recognized for our Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey by Whisky Advocate is an honor that reminds us that due diligence pays off.”
New Riff Distilling, 24 Distillery Way, Newport; 1104 Lowell St., Newport.
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This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 10, 2019.