Corn to Be Wild
When a distillery hits a milestone anniversary, the celebration can go one of two ways. Some pour their resources into elaborate events, limited-edition glassware, or shiny commemorative labels. New Riff Distilling has taken a more thoughtful approach. To mark its 11th year of making some of Kentucky’s most talked-about spirits, the Newport-based producer has unveiled Headliner 2025, a whiskey release that celebrates its earliest roots and its boldest ambitions in one carefully tuned bottle.
This year’s Headliner is more than a whiskey. It is an artifact of New Riff’s first distillation runs, blended with the barrels and techniques that have shaped its identity over the past decade. At 111 proof and bottled without chill filtration, the release is a robust yet nuanced pour that will appeal to serious whiskey fans and casual sippers alike. Instead of chasing gimmicks, New Riff has created a blend that quite literally contains its history.
The composition reads like a setlist of greatest hits. Twenty-eight percent of the blend is 11-year-old corn whiskey from those inaugural barrels. Another 27 percent is 11-year-old bourbon, also drawn from the same foundational years. Those rich, foundational flavors are balanced by three distinct rye whiskeys: 15 percent 10-year-old Balboa rye, 15 percent 10-year-old rye, and 15 percent 8-year-old Aroostook malted rye. Each component contributes something unmistakable. The corn and bourbon bring a soft sweetness, the rye layers in spice and depth, and the malted rye adds a distinctive cocoa-like edge.
The result is a whiskey that opens with a nose of maple syrup, candied dark fruit, and worn leather, before a hit of oak and baking spice pulls the aromas into focus. The first sip introduces sweetness that quickly gives way to Balboa rye’s fruity spice and a depth of vanilla and oak from extended aging. It finishes with a long, satisfying wave of cinnamon, mint chocolate, and jammy fruits. Each sip seems to shift slightly, the flavor profile morphing like the sound levels on a live stage.
Master Distiller Brian Sprance likens the process of building Headliner 2025 to mixing music. With a full inventory at their disposal, the team treated each whiskey like an instrument, balancing one against another until the blend was in perfect harmony. The idea of a “greatest hits” record is more than clever marketing. Headliner 2025 feels like a culmination of everything New Riff has done since opening its doors, a summation of where it started and where it is headed.
The release is also a reminder of New Riff’s commitment to its community. A portion of proceeds from each bottle will be donated to Brighton Center, a Northern Kentucky nonprofit that provides a wide range of services including workforce development, housing, and education. Last year’s inaugural Headliner release raised more than $100,000 for local organizations, and Brighton Center alone received $34,000. The 2025 edition continues that spirit of giving, proving that the distillery’s roots are as firmly planted in its community as they are in the whiskey world.
If you want a bottle, prepare yourself for a challenge. Headliner 2025 will be sold online only through the New Riff Whiskey Club platform at precisely 11 a.m. EST on Friday, August 1, 2025. The club is free to join, but you must create an account and be logged in when sales go live. Each bottle is priced at $150 with a strict limit of one per person. There is no lottery this year and no shipping option. Bottles must be picked up in person at the New Riff Gift Shop in Newport between August 2 and October 5. If you want someone else to pick it up on your behalf, their name must be included in your order notes, and they will need your name and order number to collect it.
For collectors and fans of the brand, Headliner 2025 is a must-have. Its proof and blend make it an excellent candidate for sipping neat, but the complexity also invites experimentation. The corn and bourbon elements provide enough sweetness to shine through in an Old Fashioned, while the layered rye spice would give a Manhattan a welcome backbone. Those who can resist opening the bottle immediately will find that its depth and structure should age beautifully on the shelf.
The story of New Riff is one of intention. From the beginning, the distillery made a point to control its own destiny, producing all of its whiskey in-house and refusing to cut corners on quality. Headliner 2025 is the distilled essence of that philosophy. Each percentage point of the blend represents choices made years ago, decisions that could not have been rushed or faked. This is a whiskey that respects its origins while confidently looking forward.
For anyone who enjoys a glass of bourbon or rye with a side of history, there is no better way to celebrate New Riff’s 11th anniversary. Headliner 2025 is a release worth lining up for online and a pour worth savoring when you finally sit down with it. It is not just a drink. It is a story, a fundraiser, and a promise that New Riff is only just beginning to hit its stride.