Chattanooga Whiskey and New Riff Distilling announced the joint release of Tennessee and Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskeys, marking the first installment of The Confluence Project – a collaborative series uniting the two 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. 

“When we first started this collaboration six years ago, it was rooted in friendship and mutual respect,” New Riff Master Distiller Brian Sprance said in a news release. “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,” Chattanooga Whiskey Founding Distiller Grant McCracken said. “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,” McCracken said. “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.  

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. 

We’re thrilled to introduce The Confluence Project, a collab with @chattwhiskey that celebrates shared learning, distinct approaches, and the beauty of differences.

This release goes on sale October 30 at 11AM EST to members of New Riff’s Whiskey Club. pic.twitter.com/v0Q9gSg3sH

— New Riff Distilling (@NewRiff) October 23, 2025

Read more: Chattanooga Whiskey Releases New Bottled in Bond Vintage

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. For more information, visit https://chattanoogawhiskey.com/.