The News
New Riff Distilling and Rhinegeist Brewing have launched DUET American Whiskey, a collaboration between the two Cincinnati-area companies. The whiskey is made with 57% malted barley, 37% raw barley, and 6% rye, aged in new American oak barrels as well as sherry casks. It was blended in a beer foeder before being re-barreled into used oak. The release took place on April 2, 2026, in Newport, KY.
The Takeaway
- Brewer-Driven Innovation: Master Distiller Brian Sprance highlights how the collaboration leveraged both companies' deep roots in grain-based beverages, using an unusual mix of malted barley, raw barley, and rye to create something distinct for Kentucky whiskey. This shows how brewers can bring fresh perspectives into spirits production.
- Aging Experimentation: The whiskey was aged in a mix of new American oak, sherry casks, and even a beer foeder, which is unusual for a spirit. This approach suggests a growing trend among small craft producers to experiment with unconventional aging techniques to differentiate their products.
- Cross-Industry Synergy: The partnership between New Riff Distilling and Rhinegeist Brewing underscores how collaboration across beverage sectors can lead to innovative products that reflect both regional traditions. It also shows how long-standing relationships in the industry can spark creative projects.
Added May 2026: This update provides context for buyers comparing new and traditional whiskey aging methods, highlighting the experimental nature of the collaboration's approach.
Original Press Release
Newport, KY (April 2, 2026) — Two of the Greater Cincinnati area’s most beloved beverage makers are working in concert to debut DUET American Whiskey, a collaboration between New Riff Distilling and Rhinegeist Brewing. Focused on barley — a primary grain in both whiskey and beer production — this unique whiskey showcases Kentucky’s rich distilling tradition and Cincinnati’s storied brewing heritage.
A brewer before joining New Riff, Master Distiller Brian Sprance welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Rhinegeist team on DUET American Whiskey.
“This collaboration wasn’t intended to recreate something that already exists,” Sprance said. “Brewers work with an incredible range of grains, malts, and yeast strains, and with our shared background in brewing, that creative overlap between us and Rhinegeist felt very natural. The result is a whiskey that’s a little unexpected for Kentucky, and a great reflection of what can happen when distillers and brewers who’ve known each other for years come together to create something new.”
Made with an unusual mashbill of 57% malted barley, 37% raw barley, and 6% rye, DUET American Whiskey also features an uncommon aging process. The majority of DUET American Whiskey was aged in new American oak barrels, along with select Spanish oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The final blend was married together in a massive foeder used for beer maturation, then re-barreled into used American oak barrels, allowing the whiskey to harmonize and develop a deeper balance of flavor.
Aged at least 6 years and bottled at 111.2 proof, DUET American Whiskey leads with fresh barley and bright grain on the nose, with notes of green melon, tangerine, and orchard fruit alongside deeper dark fruit and leathery sherry. On the palate, traditional grain flavors lead with delicate savory notes, while cracker malt and citrus balance the richness and sherry carries through. Sherry and tangerine dominate on the lingering finish.
“We’re thrilled to add another layer of meaning to Spirit of the Rhine, Rhinegeist’s eponym, when limited quantities of DUET are released across Ohio and Kentucky in concert with our friends across the river at New Riff Distilling,” said Rhinegeist CEO Adam Bankovich. “The project was inspired by the mutual appreciation our teams have for each other, and it is no surprise the past year of collaboration has been so harmonious.”
What’s on the outside of the bottle is as collaborative as what’s inside, thanks to the work of Jared Wagner and Chloe Rethman. Graphic designers for New Riff and Rhinegeist, respectively, the two were married last May after meeting while working at FC Cincinnati.
This release is the latest in New Riff’s catalog of collaborations with beloved local brands. Since its founding, New Riff has strategically partnered with local breweries and food partners on pop-ups in The Aquifer Tasting Room, and in 2025, teamed up with Graeter’s to release Bourbon Ball ice cream made with New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon.
A liquid testament to the delicious, convivial contributions of two Greater Cincinnati favorites, DUET American Whiskey will be available to purchase beginning Friday, April 10, at New Riff’s gift shop and at select retailers in Ohio and Kentucky for $79.99. DUET American Whiskey is also available by the pour in The Aquifer Tasting Room at New Riff and at Rhinegeist’s Tap Room.
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, 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.
Rhinegeist Brewery (Cincinnati, OH):
Rhinegeist Brewery was founded in 2013. Its name translates to “Spirit of the Rhine,” and refers to its location in the historic Over-the-Rhine Brewery District in Cincinnati, Ohio. Located in the skeleton of a notable pre-Prohibition bottling plant, everything Rhinegeist produces is truly crafted with spirit. Rhinegeist Brewery was ranked as the largest craft brewery in Ohio by volume, and 16th largest craft brewery in the U.S., according to the 2024 Brewers Association’s annual production report. The Rhinegeist team continues to believe in the power of craft to bring people together, foment fantastic ideas, and build a lasting community.
Source: BevNET