New Riff’s New American Single Malt Whiskey for 2026 Is Excellent
The American single malt category has been around for decades, but it was only officially recognized by the federal government in early 2025 when the TTB finally gave it a legal definition after years of lobbying. Big names like Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, and Bulleit have dipped their toes into the category, but the craft distilleries have been at this for many years. One the best examples of American single malt, however, comes from a relatively new operation that mostly makes bourbon and rye in northern Kentucky—New Riff—which just dropped the 2026 edition of its single malt.
New Riff has been around for more than a decade, and as mentioned before the distillery’s focus has mostly been on producing bourbon and rye whiskey, specifically bottled-in-bond versions (at least four years old, exactly 100 proof, made at one distillery during one distillation season). It has also been quietly distilling and aging single malt over the past 12 years, and finally released its first batch in 2023 with subsequent batches dropping every year since. “This is one of the most creative whiskeys we make, and a blend we look forward to revisiting every year,” said master distiller Brian Sprance in a statement. “These whiskeys are inspired by malted barleys used in the brewing industry, reimagined through our Kentucky regimen.”
The mashbill and maturation of New Riff’s single malt changes with every release (barrels are always filled at 110 proof, however), but these whiskeys have really stood out from the pack, and that remains true with the 2026 edition. This new whiskey was made from six different mashbills, all 100 percent barley but different varietals: 11.7 percent Marris Otter, 14.1 percent Golden Promise, 27.7 percent beer-inspired barleywine, 16.5 percent Belgian Quadrupel, 18 percent Scottish peated barley, and 12 percent Chevallier. That last one, which the distillery says is a historic British heirloom varietal, is a first for New Riff. The 111.7-proof whiskey was aged for at least seven years in five different types of casks: new charred oak, de-charred toasted oak, used bourbon barrels, Spanish oloroso sherry casks, and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
“We’ve spent years working with a wide range of malts, and that experience is really shown through how this whiskey comes together,” Sprance said. “Each component can stand on its own, but the real magic is in how they interact, showcasing our expertise in blending and bringing all of those elements into balance.” This is a deep and rich whiskey, with notes of dark and milk chocolate, raisin, coconut, dried fig, vanilla, oak, and some gentle smoke that is equally fireplace and barbecue on the palate, along with hints of citrus and cherry. New Riff’s 2026 Single Malt Whiskey (SRP $70) will be available at select retailers nationwide and the distillery gift shop starting May 15, and you can find other expressions at websites like ReserveBar now.
