New Riff Relaunches Winter Whiskey for the Holidays

Newport, KY (Nov. 22, 2024) - - - New Riff Distilling will deck the halls — and shelves — this holiday season with the rerelease of its Winter Whiskey, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with malted oats and chocolate malt. The Newport distillery’s seasonal stunner first debuted in 2020 as an innovative riff on bourbon bearing beloved, nostalgic holiday flavors.

"Winter Whiskey offers a classic bourbon foundation of clean, sweet corn, enhanced with layers of malty, nutty and dark chocolate flavors,” said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “Inspired by years of brewing expertise, Winter Whiskey reimagines the essence of a classic oatmeal stout, creating a non-traditional, one-of-a-kind bourbon.” 

The unique mashbill is made up of 65% corn, 20% malted oats, 7% pale ale malt, 5% steel cut raw oats and 3% chocolate malt. Winter Whiskey is bottled in bond without chill filtration at 100 proof and aged at least four years.  

Winter Whiskey tastes like a conversation between the dry cocoa quality of the chocolate malt, a balanced amount of oak and a unique spicy quality distinct from that of rye. The finish dances away on the oaty spice, with hints of Belgian cocoa. Despite the suggestion of chocolate in the grains — and in the name — Winter Whiskey never turns sweet or cloying, tending to delicate dryness. 

"Winter Whiskey captures the comforting, familiar flavors of the season while staying true to our commitment to making distinctive, high-quality spirits,” Sprance said. 

Winter Whiskey has a suggested MSRP of $54.99 and will be available for purchase at the distillery gift shop beginning Friday, Nov. 29, at 11 a.m. EST. It will be available for online shipping and at retailers across the distillery’s distribution network in the coming weeks. 

New Riff (Newport, KY): 

Fiercely independent and unabashedly innovative: New Riff Distilling starts with time-honored sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond standards, creating new riffs on old traditions since 2014. Located in Northern Kentucky — the gateway to bourbon country — the independently-owned distillery produces award-winning bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey and gin. Bourbon and rye are also available in single barrel selections, and the distillery boasts a popular private barrel selection program offering quarter, half and full barrel picks complete with personalized labels. New Riff sources its water from an alluvial aquifer under the distillery, accessed via a 100’ deep private well and providing cold, clean and mineral-rich water perfect for whiskey making. The public-facing spaces in the distillery, renovated in 2023, include the Riff Shop with customizable gifting options and locally sourced artisan goods; and The Aquifer Tasting Room, located on the third floor of the distillery, featuring signature cocktails, flights, and pours of New Riff’s entire portfolio of award-winning spirits including rare, limited-edition, and distillery-exclusive releases. 

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