Whiskey Judges Describe the World’s Best Bourbon as ‘Vanilla Cookie’—And It Only Costs $40

New Riff Distilling’s Bottled-in-Bond bourbon beat out far pricier competition.

BY AMAYA NICHOLE, NEWS WRITER

While much of the Kentucky whiskey industry is navigating bankruptcies and billion-dollar mergers, one growing distillery is busy collecting the industry’s biggest honors.

Recently, the World Whiskies Awards named its World’s Best Bourbon. The winner turned out to cost a fraction of the price of some other bourbons it outperformed: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon, priced at $40 and available in all 50 states.

“We put our hearts into every barrel we fill, so seeing that work recognized on a global stage alongside such respected distilleries truly means the world to our entire team,” New Riff Distilling initially wrote on Facebook.

The WWA judges tasting notes described “lemon zest and butterscotch on the nose” before “a bright palate with cinnamon, caramel, fresh fig, vanilla cookie, sweet pastry, dried leather, pumpernickel rye, corned beef and brine.” The finish is warm and sweet, with “caramel, lemon peel, crumb cookie and coffee.”

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The recognition solidifies New Riff’s place among the country’s most compelling whiskey distilleries. Last year’s best bourbon title when to Old Fitzgerald, an 11-year-old release from industry stalwart Heaven Hill. And in 2024, 1792 12-Year from the equally acclaimed Barton 1792 Distillery took the prize. The Old Fitzgerald typically sells for at least $700, while the 1792 goes for closer to $100.

New Riff has built its reputation on using unconventional grains in its recipes—like balboa rye, red turkey wheat, and malted rye—since opening its Newport, Kentucky distillery in 2014. Perhaps ironically, or maybe just in a testament to New Riff’s craft, it was the brand’s classic bottled-in-bond bourbon that took top honors at the World Whiskies Awards 2026.

In addition to winning the WWA award, New Riff’s Balboa Rye was also recently ranked number four in the world by Whisky Advocate.

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