Chattanooga, TN (October 23, 2025) – Chattanooga Whiskey and New Riff Distilling announce the joint release of Tennessee and Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskeys, marking the first installment of The Confluence  Project – a collaborative series uniting the two award-winning distilleries in a shared exploration of craft,  contrast, and a celebration of their differences. Named for the meeting of two rivers and inspired by the  distilleries' locations on the Tennessee and Ohio Rivers, the Confluence Project: Volume 1 starts with a single  wheat whiskey mash bill, which is uniquely shaped by each distillery’s style and philosophy. For more  information, please visit chattanoogawhiskey.com. 

“When we first started this collaboration six years ago, it was rooted in friendship and mutual respect,” said New  Riff Master Distiller Brian Sprance. “We wanted to create something new and exciting, so we agreed on a 100%  wheat whiskey, which neither of us had done before. The beauty of The Confluence Project is that it highlights what  makes each distillery unique – our techniques, our barrels, our philosophies – yet it all starts from the same grain.” 

While this release marks the first official collaborative project between the two brands, the distiller duos’  professional journeys intersected long before their whiskeys did. 

“Brian and New Riff Distilling are both extremely important to the Chattanooga Whiskey story,” said Chattanooga  Whiskey Founding Distiller Grant McCracken. “Brian not only hired me for my very first job in craft brewing, but he also introduced me to the Chattanooga Whiskey team back in 2014 and helped me learn the ropes of craft distilling  by allowing me to shadow him for a week at New Riff. So, on a company level, our paths have crossed in significant  ways; and on a personal level – well – let’s just say I wouldn’t be here today without Brian and his friendship.” 

For this inaugural release, both distilleries agreed on a unique mashbill of 60% Red Turkey Wheat, 24%  Appalachian Malted Wheat, 8% Dark Malted Wheat, and 8% Caramel Malted Wheat – and then set out to make the whiskey in their own distinct ways. From mash to barrel, each distilling team applied its unique techniques,  philosophies and traditions, resulting in two collections of single barrels that reflect the whiskey making decisions  of both distilleries. 

“At a high level, New Riff and Chattanooga Whiskey certainly have a lot in common; but when you dig into the  details, there are a lot of nuanced differences in how we approach any given recipe,” said McCracken. “So, the  thought of the collaboration was to agree on a mash bill and then let both distilling teams ‘do what they do,’ and  celebrate those differences.” 

After the mash bill was set, both distilling teams conducted a “distiller swap,” spending time at each other’s  facilities to observe how the other distiller approached the distillation process. New Riff’s iconic Kentucky Regimen leans on limestone-filtered water, heirloom grain, and slow-rise fermentations to build flavor, while  Chattanooga Whiskey’s trademarked Tennessee High Malt style builds flavor with specialty malt, cool  attemperated fermentations, and custom-toasted barrels. 

Released into Chattanooga Whiskey’s Experimental Single Barrel Series, this Tennessee Straight Wheat Whiskey  will be released as 11 unique single barrels, aged across a range of cask types – all bottled at cask strength. Each  barrel delivers its own distinct profile, reflecting each cask’s character and the influence of differing entry proofs.  Collectively, the release presents a bold, layered experience, with notes ranging from carrot cake, candied walnut,  honey butter, apricot jam, and toasted oak, with a long, full-bodied, malty-sweet finish. 

Designed as a rolling, barrel-by-barrel release, the first two single barrels in the series will be available for  purchase at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery beginning Thursday, Oct. 30 for $69.99. As each  barrel sells out, the next will take its place until all 11 are gone. A small allocation of each barrel will also be  available at Seelbachs.com shortly thereafter. 

About Chattanooga Whiskey: 
Founded in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey challenged the laws and won the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga  for the first time in 100 years. As a result, the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery – the only standalone  experimental distillery in the country – was born. The distillery now hosts over 50,000 visitors annually and  serves as a hub of innovation and creativity to push the boundaries of craft whiskey. 

In 2017, the Chattanooga Whiskey Riverfront Distillery opened as the production home of Chattanooga Whiskey’s  signature expressions: Chattanooga Whiskey 91, Cask 111, and 99 Rye, as well as their Bottled in Bond Vintage  Series, Barrel Finishing Series, and Founder's Anniversary Blend. 

Independently owned and operated, Chattanooga Whiskey is committed to making whiskey that emphasizes  quality, complexity, and authenticity through their one-of-a-kind Tennessee High Malt style. Most recently,  Chattanooga Whiskey was named Icons of Whisky - Craft Producer of the Year (both America and Global) at  Whisky Magazine's 2023 World Whiskies Awards. 

Chattanooga Whiskey: www.chattanoogawhiskey.com 

Experimental Distillery 1439 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 

Riverfront Distillery 890 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga, TN 

About New Riff Distilling: 
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 NewRiff’s entire portfolio of award-winning spirits  including rare, limited-edition, and distillery-exclusive releases. 

New Riff Distilling: www.newriffdistilling.com 

New Riff Distillery: 24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY 41073