New Riff Unveils 6-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon, a Whiskey Club Exclusive Available Oct. 16

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The rare grain exploration uses floor-malted wheat and dark wheat, and retails for $59.99 with distillery pickup only

NEWPORT, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2026) – New Riff Distilling has announced its 6-year-old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, available exclusively through its Whiskey Club beginning Friday, Oct. 16. The Newport distillery’s take on the classic style showcases traditionally floor-malted wheat and other grains, drawing on the distilling team’s brewing expertise and the character of dark wheat.

Key Highlights

  • Age: 6 years
  • Proof: 100 proof, bottled in bond, non-chill filtered
  • Price: $59.99 suggested retail
  • Availability: Whiskey Club members only, distillery pickup only, beginning Friday, Oct. 16

Built Like a Beer Recipe

The mashbill is closer to a beer recipe than a traditional whiskey recipe. It was built around wheat and malted grains familiar to the distilling team from their brewing backgrounds. The distillers chose traditionally floor-malted grains, produced through a labor-intensive germination process, for the deeper, more robust flavors they bring to the whiskey.

Mashbill:

  • 65% corn
  • 18% floor-malted wheat
  • 10% unmalted wheat
  • 7% dark wheat

Dark wheat adds balance and a richer, more roasted character, along with malty sweetness and notes of toffee and caramel.

“Since day one, we’ve wanted a wheated bourbon in our portfolio, and I wanted to make one that was really flavorful,” said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “That led us to grains we know well from our brewing background, including different malted grains and wheats that aren’t commonly used in whiskey. We’ve worked with these grains extensively in brewing and knew they could bring something different to a wheated bourbon. It’s our take on how flavorful and interesting a wheated bourbon can be.”

“Every grain was chosen with flavor in mind, resulting in a very flavorful wheat whiskey with layers of character that set it apart from what you typically find in the category,” said Sprance.

Tasting Notes

Bright and lively, the whiskey opens with lemon zest, fresh orange, orange blossom honey and warm lemon pound cake, layered with soft wheat, toasted pecan and subtle oak.

  • Palate: Brown sugar, custard and baking spice
  • Finish: Vanilla buttercream, honey, bright lemon citrus and a gentle, nutty oak character

How to Buy

New Riff Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey has a suggested retail price of $59.99 and goes on sale Friday, Oct. 16, exclusively through New Riff’s Whiskey Club for distillery pickup only. The Whiskey Club is free to join at newriffwhiskeyclub.com.

About New Riff Distilling

New Riff Distilling in Newport, Ky., has been creating new riffs on old traditions since 2014, starting with time-honored sour mash methods and bottled-in-bond standards. The independently owned distillery produces award-winning bourbon, rye, single malt whiskey and gin. Its flagship Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named World’s Best Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. New Riff also offers single barrel selections and a private barrel program with quarter, half and full barrel picks. Its Riff Shop and The Aquifer Tasting Room, renovated in 2023, are open to the public.

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