New Riff Distilling recently announced that Brian Sprance has been named Master Distiller, the first in the distillery’s history.
Sprance, previously Head Distiller, has been with the company since its inception in 2014. Before New Riff was founded, Sprance was recruited as head distiller by its Founder, Co-Owner and CEO Ken Lewis, who understood that fermentation is where a spirit’s flavors are created; distillation only concentrates them. To Lewis, Sprance’s expertise in fermentation as a former brewer for Cincinnati’s Boston Beer Company spoke for itself.
“When I founded New Riff in 2014, my goal was, and still is, for our Northern Kentucky distillery to become one of the great small distilleries of the world,” said New Riff Distilling Founder, Co-Owner and CEO Ken Lewis. “The person at New Riff leading that charge to make world-class whiskey to share with the world is our head distiller Brian Sprance. So it’s fitting as we approach our tenth anniversary, that we recognize Brian for his leadership role in moving us forward toward that aspirational goal and for sharing with us all such outstanding whiskey by conferring on him the well earned title of master distiller.”
Upon joining New Riff, Sprance was mentored by consulting master distiller and “godfather of rye whiskey” Larry Ebersold. Together with New Riff Co-Founder Jay Erisman, they launched the distillery and laid the foundation for the flavor profiles of its spirits and aging regimen.
“Larry Ebersold was instrumental in my training as a distiller and I consider myself extremely lucky to count him as a mentor,” New Riff Distilling Master Distiller Brian Sprance said. “Larry was an excellent teacher who rarely gave the answer, but instead, motivated me to reach a full understanding of each situation that presented itself in the whiskey making process. While I consider Larry one of my biggest influences in whiskey today, I’m even luckier to consider him a trusted and valued friend.”
While this transition serves as a nod to Sprance’s contribution to the company’s quest to become one of the greatest small distilleries in the world and a testament to a decade’s worth of profound work mastering his craft, His primary focus as master distiller will remain in making “world-class whiskey.”
The Master Distiller announcement kicks off an eventful year for New Riff that will include expansion into new states, Tenth Anniversary celebrations and the release of older whiskey.
“2024 will be a transformational year for New Riff,” Lewis said. “The team has put in a lot of work behind the scenes and I’m excited to share those efforts with our customers.”
