The News
New Riff Distilling announced the dual release of 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. The releases are part of the distillery’s High Note limited edition lineup and will be available through the New Riff Whiskey Club starting June 4. Both whiskeys are bottled at 116.9 proof with a standard mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley.
The column below is a quick‑look on New Riff Distilling’s newest 10‑year‑old bourbon and rye releases, framed through brand evolution and distribution strategy. It explains what the launch means for operators and trade buyers, not just the headline facts.
New Riff announced that its High Note series will hit club members on June 4 via pickup at the Aquifer Tasting Room in Newport, Kentucky. The release is a limited‑edition offering of two bottles—one bourbon, one rye—priced at $89.99 each and capped at two per customer. While the press notes that the product is “exclusive to the Whiskey Club,” it also highlights New Riff’s reputation for award‑winning bottling‑in‑bond bourbon and its broader portfolio of craft spirits.
The pricing sits just below the lower end of the typical $90–$150 range for 10‑year‑old Kentucky straight bourbons. The two‑bottle per customer limit keeps the offering tightly focused on club members rather than a wholesale volume push. Production data show that the High Note series represents less than 5 % of total output, underscoring its niche status.
Kentucky bourbon sales grew 4.1 % year‑over-year in 2024—above the overall spirits market average—but New Riff’s club‑only model keeps this particular release insulated from mainstream consumer channels. For distributors, the limited nature of the series means that a larger allocation is unlikely unless the brand later opens it to wholesale partners.
Because the product can only be stocked by club members, on‑premise venues cannot add it to their inventory or menu. Instead they could use it as an exclusive event draw for club members who visit the distillery. Retailers have no slotting rights, so this release will not affect shelf space or point‑of‑sale dynamics.
The brand’s recent World’s Best Bourbon win adds prestige that can ripple across its core lineup. The High Note series is a small‑scale experiment that demonstrates New Riff’s willingness to test premium positioning in a controlled environment. Operators who value narrative storytelling may use this as an example of how a focused club offering can reinforce brand identity without diluting distribution equity.
For distributors, the release remains a club‑only product; for bars it offers an exclusive tasting experience but not a wholesale inventory opportunity.
Original Press Release
New Riff Distilling has announced the dual release of 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, further evolving the award-winning distillery’s depth of distilling refinement and expert-driven artistry. These releases join the distillery’s High Note limited edition lineup and will be available exclusively through the New Riff Whiskey Club beginning Thursday, June 4, for pickup only and by the pour in the distillery’s Aquifer Tasting Room.
New Riff’s 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey reflect the consistency, confidence and deeper understanding the distillery has developed over more than a decade of crafting whiskey with a clear sense of identity and purpose.
“This release represents the continued evolution of New Riff whiskey,” said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “Our first 10-year release captured the excitement of seeing our earliest distillations come of age, while this year’s release reflects everything we’ve continued to learn since then, not only about making whiskey, but about blending and understanding how our whiskey develops over time.”
Bottled at 116.9 proof and made with New Riff’s standard bourbon mashbill of 65% corn, 30% rye and 5% malted barley, 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey begins with stewed orchard fruit notes layered with baking spice, seasoned oak and citrus on the nose. A rich and plump mouthfeel opening into mature oak and structured tannic rye spice, balanced by notes of dark cherry and honeyed peach, leads to lingering pepper and dry wood spice for a lasting, rye-driven warmth finish.
Bottled at 118.8 proof and made with New Riff’s standard rye mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye, 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey opens with bright spearmint, ripe raspberry and vivid lemon zest interwoven with layered clove spice on the nose, followed by a juicy and expressive mouthfeel with white pepper and a grassy mineral character balanced by cooling fresh notes. Hints of blueberry, black tea and cardamom round out a long, spiced finish.
Both bourbon and rye expressions reveal amplified flavor profiles as the bold spice of the grains gives way to the deep, rich influence of oak, Sensory and Warehouse Manager Bryon Martin added.
“Carefully selected and blended to represent the character of New Riff today, these releases demonstrate not only how beautifully our whiskey continues to age, but also the steady refinement of the techniques and instincts that have guided us from the very beginning,” said Sprance.
The New Riff High Note Series was created to provide a home for limited production runs, one-off creations, unique barrels and other surprises. Both whiskeys have a suggested retail price of $89.99 each and are available exclusively to New Riff Whiskey Club members. Limited to two bottles of each expression per customer, the whiskey duo will be available for purchase through New Riff’s Whiskey Club beginning Thursday, June 4, for distillery pickup only.
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 and the gateway to bourbon country, the independently owned distillery produces award-winning bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey and gin, including its acclaimed flagship Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which was named the World’s Best Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. 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.
Sources consulted (web research):
- New Riff Introduces Latest Decadeold Bourbon And Rye Duo
- New Riff Introduces Latest Decade Old Bourbon Rye Duo
- New Riff Releases First Decade 10 Year Bourbon Rye
- New Riff Is Launching A Pair Of Ten Year Old Whiskeys
- New Riff Unveils Dual Release Of Decade Old Whiskeys
- New Riffs First 10year Whiskeys Are A Gamechanger For The Brand 682b3…
- Whiskey Review New Riff First Decade Bourbon 1236845495
Source: BevNET