New Riff Distilling’s Balboa Rye Ranked No. 4 in the World by Whisky Advocate

Highly respected list spotlights New Riff’s innovation, momentum

Newport, KY (Dec. 9, 2025) – – – Putting the bow on an exciting year, New Riff Distilling earned a top ranking from Whisky Advocate for the re-release of Balboa Rye, one of the distillery’s most unique and longest-running projects. The distillery is celebrating the milestone with a limited number of bottles available at the Newport distillery beginning Friday, Dec. 12. For more information, visit www.newriffdistilling.com.

Balboa Rye earned a 95, placing fourth on the list alongside whiskies from the U.S., Scotland, India, Ireland and Japan. A leading authority in the industry, Whisky Advocate evaluates products throughout the year, rating them on a 100-point scale before releasing the year’s top 20. Balboa Rye is one of three rye whiskies in the top 20, one of six Kentucky products, and the only bottled in bond.

“It’s an honor to be recognized within such a varied group of whiskies from around the world,” said New Riff CEO Hannah Lowen. “Earning this accolade from the highly respected Whisky Advocate team is a true honor and great recognition for our team’s hard work and innovation over the past 11 years.”

Bottled without chill filtration at 100 proof with a mashbill of 95% Balboa rye and 5% malted rye, the 2025 Balboa Rye opens with spiced, red fruit and clove notes, progressing to hints of pure rye bread and black and white pepper with an emergence of a horehound candy and pink peppercorn presence to finish.

“Exploring the flavor that grains — particularly those that existed before the industrialization of farming — bring to whiskey has been part of our story from the beginning,” said Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “Balboa Rye was the first heirloom grain we distilled here at New Riff. To be recognized for a whiskey that is unlike anything else out there is very meaningful.”

Balboa Rye has earned numerous accolades, including a recent double gold medal in the 2025 Barleycorn Awards and Best Rye Whiskey aged 4-5 years at the 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition. It previously earned Best Rye accolades at the 2020 Barleycorn Awards as well as multiple double gold and gold medals from Barleycorn and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition dating back to the first release in 2019.

A limited amount of Balboa Rye will be available for $59.99 at New Riff’s gift shop beginning Friday, Dec. 12, at 11 a.m. There is a limit of two bottles per person. Additional Balboa Rye will be released in January 2026, available at select retailers across the country following New Riff’s expansion into nationwide distribution earlier this year.

Balboa Rye joins other New Riff releases earning accolades this year — the distillery’s award-winning Single Malt program continues to turn heads, with a Top 50 ranking from VinePair, 2025 Esquire Spirit Award recognition and double gold from the Barleycorn Awards. This fall, New Riff’s 8 Year Bourbon and Sherry Finish Malted Rye both earned double gold awards at the San Francisco Wine & Spirits Competition.

This is New Riff’s second top 20 ranking since Whisky Advocate began releasing the list in 2017 — the distillery’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye was ranked 17^th in 2019. 

Photos available here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yr8b6re24fej34ifj5nj0/ACL3q3-4zwF5yZtRJvnGxgA?rlkey=0kd7tw9rcb9njmin948nlhiyp&st=4idua2oc&dl=0

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. 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.

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