New Riff Re-releases Winter Whiskey and Sherry Finish Malted Rye for the Holidays

Award-winning specialty whiskeys make seasonal return

Newport, KY (Nov. 20, 2025) - New Riff Distilling has announced fan-favorites Winter Whiskey and Sherry Finish Malted Rye are home for the holidays, available for purchase beginning Black Friday, Nov. 28.

A Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey made with malted oats and chocolate malt, New Riff's acclaimed Winter Whiskey is made up of 65% corn, 20% malted oats, 7% pale ale malt, 5% steel cut raw oats and 3% chocolate malt and is bottled in bond without chill filtration at 100 proof and aged at least 4 years.

"Going back to our brewing roots, this whiskey was inspired by our love of chocolate oatmeal stouts," said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. "We took that beer recipe and reimagined it as a bourbon, exploring how chocolate malt and malted grains could translate through distillation. It's an incredibly challenging whiskey to make, but it's a challenge we look forward to every time. The result is a non-traditional, one-of-a-kind expression that marries rich, malty chocolate flavors with the classic vanilla and char of the barrel."

This seasonal expression offers a unique journey of flavors in its 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.

First introduced in 2022, New Riff's Sherry Finish Malted Rye builds on the distillery's exploration of malted rye whiskey and is bottled at barrel strength without chill filtration and secondarily aged in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.

"We're not known for barrel finishing, which is why this whiskey stands out in our lineup," said Sprance. "Treating our 100% Malted Rye as a malt whiskey first made a sherry cask finish feel completely natural. The result is rich, elegant, and nuanced, with rye character that bursts through in the finish. We're incredibly proud of how this one turned out, and we think people will really enjoy it."

Sherry Finish Malted Rye Whiskey, a double gold medal recipient and "Best in Class" finalist at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, is bottled straight from the barrel at 111.9 proof and has a buttery, sherry oak nose with notes of walnut and a hint of vanilla. The broad, savory character fills the mouth with flavors of sappy sherry coupled with malty grain, followed with a late bursting finish of brightening spices such as clove and wood spice with multicolored fruit skin.

Winter Whiskey and Sherry Finish Malted Rye have a suggested MSRP of $59.99 and $69.99 respectively, and will be available for purchase at the distillery gift shop, online and across New Riff's national distribution network beginning Friday, Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. EST.

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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