Whiskey fans across the Tri-State attended the second-annual John G. Carlisle Bottled-in-Bond (BIB) Competition and Celebration at Smoke Justis in Covington earlier this month.
For its second year, attendees once again crowned New Riff Distilling as the winner of its blind-tasting event.
During the event, meetNKY and The B-Line, in conjunction with Smoke Justis, led guests in a guided blind-pour tasting of three of the best BIB whiskey varietals in the country. Members of The B-Line nominated the three whiskeys for the tastings — New Riff’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Early Time’s Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon, and Henry McKenna’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon. Patrons then cast votes for the best Bottled-In-Bond whiskey. Guests also sampled specially crafted charcuterie boards to complement each flavor profile.
Amanda Johannemann, of meetNKY, presents the winning barrel head to New Riff Distilling’s Mac Harris (Photo from meetNKY)
“We are so honored to have been named as one of the best-bonded whiskies two years in a row by those who know and love them,” said Mac Harris, New Riff distiller. “It’s always fun to be able to gather with friends and whiskey enthusiasts in a shared setting to celebrate the industry and the role our region continues to play in creating world-class spirits.”
New Riff also received the John G. Carlisle Award in 2022 at the inaugural Bottled-in-Bond event, which celebrated the 125th anniversary of the passage of the Bottled-In-Bond Act on March 3, 1897.
“This event is such a fun way to celebrate Covington’s strong historical ties as a leader in setting high standards for the whiskey industry,” said president and CEO of meetNKY, Julie Kirkpatrick. “We enjoyed being back at Smoke Justis to celebrate one of Kentucky’s signature industries. Congratulations to New Riff for taking home the John G. Carlisle Award for the second year in a row for their unique flavor profile and all-around stellar spirit.”
The 2023 BIB celebration kicked off with socializing in the bourbon bar at Smoke Justis, followed by welcome remarks and a short education on BIB and Covingtonian John G. Carlisle’s role in passing the Federal legislation.
Before Congressman Carlisle championed the passage of the BIB Act in 1897, much of the whiskey produced nationwide often included harmful additives like iodine, tobacco and even paint thinner. As a result of the Act, participating BIB distillers must put their products into federally bonded warehouses for at least four years and bottle at 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume). Additionally, owners must stipulate on the labels of their bottles where the whiskey is distilled and where it was bottled, if not at the same location where it’s distilled.
To learn more about upcoming events or meetNKY’s mission, visit www.meetnky.com.
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