Sips & Sites & Bites

When New Riff Distilling debuted their “Headliner” release last year, it felt like a celebration of a decade of innovation. But this year, they’ve come back louder, bolder, and … dare we say … even more complex. The 2025 Headliner is here, and it’s more than just a whiskey blend. It’s a remix of New Riff’s greatest hits, with a few new riffs added for good measure.

This limited-edition bottle leans heavily on New Riff’s roots, spotlighting two of the very first whiskeys they ever distilled. That’s right, this blend includes 11-year-old bourbon and corn whiskey from their original 2014 distillations. The result? A pour that’s deeply layered, balanced, and proudly retrospective, with some serious spice from rye whiskeys that bring the heat.

“If you know our whiskeys, you’ll recognize their voices,” says Master Distiller Brian Sprance. And he’s not wrong. This is a symphony in a bottle: 28% 11-year-old corn whiskey, 27% 11-year-old bourbon, and a trifecta of rye whiskeys … Balboa rye, 10-year rye, and Aroostook malted rye … each adding their own distinct flair to the chorus.

It’s unfiltered, bottled at 111 proof, and hits all the right notes. On the nose: sweet maple, dark fruit, and that worn-leather richness you only get with well-aged corn whiskey. The palate opens with creamy corn sweetness, then pivots into fruity rye spice that refuses to be background noise. The finish? A long, dramatic fade-out of mint chocolate, cinnamon heat, and jammy stone fruit.

But this bottle doesn’t just sound good … it does good. Like last year, proceeds from the Headliner release will benefit the Brighton Center, a local Northern Kentucky nonprofit focused on helping families reach financial independence. “We’re proud that this release supports our community,” said New Riff President Mollie Lewis. “We’ve always believed innovation should go hand-in-hand with impact.”

The 2025 Headliner drops Friday, August 1 at 11 a.m. EDT, exclusively through New Riff’s Whiskey Club (free to join, but you’ll want to set that alarm … bottles are one per person and pickup only). And for the design lovers among us, matching screenprinted posters featuring the label art will be available in limited quantities.

This year’s blend might be a nod to New Riff’s beginnings, but it’s clear they’re still turning up the volume.