Episode 477: May 3, 2014

Most distillery startups these days come from entrepreneurs looking for a new challenge in life, and Ken Lewis is no different. His New Riff Distillery in Newport, Kentucky is literally a “new riff” after 38 years of running The Party Source, one of the largest liquor stores in the Cincinnati area. New Riff is scheduled to distill its first spirit this week, and Ken joins us to discuss his reasons for switching from selling whisky to making it on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, Suntory closes its $16 billion deal to acquire Beam, Edrington opens the doors on its new US division, Louisville looks to build on the boom in Bourbon tourism, and at a time when no-age-statement whiskies are fashionable, Heaven Hill adds one to its Bernheim Wheat Whiskey.

Links: New Riff Distilling | Beam Suntory | Edrington | Scotch Whisky Association | Bourbon Country | The Glenlivet | The Fat Trout | Heaven Hill | Spirit of Speyside Festival | Blackadder | Tullibardine | The Balvenie