New Riff Distilling

After being one of the first distilleries to offer a customer experience over a decade ago, New Riff Distilling embarked on a transformative journey. With the explosion of the bourbon industry, New Riff wanted to reflect the creativity and sophistication the brand evolved to become over the years.

A year-long, $3-million renovation reimagined The Aquifer Tasting Room, relocating it from the first floor to the third floor. The overhaul extended into the first-floor gift shop, welcoming station and pre-tour waiting area. The third floor, which spans around 10,000 feet, was previously used as a private event space.

KLH led the lighting design strategy for the newly renovated gift shop and The Aquifer Tasting Room, setting new standards for ambience and functionality. In the gift shop, the client’s goals were to create a bright and inviting atmosphere to activate the retail experience. Track lighting systems with adjustable optics where incorporated to accent merchandise. The pendant downlights were specified with internal reflector with a copper finish to give homage to warm tones of bourbon. A custom jewel case light fixture was designed to showcase the exquisite history of New Riff Bourbon.

The Aquifer Tasting Room elevates the bar in customer experience. From the familiar rich, warm tones to the innovative nods to the bourbon-making process, New Riff celebrates sophistication and authenticity. Our lighting design was quietly integrated into the space to subtly enhance the innovating bar design. Custom linear suspended lighting was designed to provide the glow for the floating copper ceiling. The illuminated logo in the ceiling incorporated practical lighting equipment to achieve a high-end effect. The final solution for the custom lighting controls allows the client to select lighting scenes and set dimming levels to allow flexibility for all events in the space.