An Austrian immigrant's mail-order whiskey empire was shut down by Prohibition — and reborn over 90 years later as the city's first distillery since.
Expert description
Rieger's Extra Fine Kansas City Whiskey is an American blended whiskey, bottled at 46%, from J. Rieger & Co.. Jacob Rieger emigrated from Görz, Austria, to the US in 1877 and founded his distillery in 1887 in Kansas City's West Bottoms neighbourhood, directly across from the city's livestock exchange. Under the leadership of his son Alexander Rieger, the company grew into the largest mail-order whiskey house in the US, with over 250,000 customers and a range of more than 100 unique products, including whiskeys, gins, rums and stomach bitters. The distillery closed in December 1919 due to federal Prohibition and wasn't re-established until 2014 by Andy Rieger and Ryan Maybee, who thereby founded Kansas City's first legal distillery since Prohibition. Kansas City Whiskey is a blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Light Corn Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey, all aged at least 4 years, with a small amount of 15-year-old Oloroso sherry from the Williams & Humbert bodega added.
Tasting notes
Nose
The nose offers caramel, sherry and a hint of spiced rye.
Palate
The palate is round with brown sugar, dried fruit and light sweetness.
Finish
The finish is medium to long, spicy and sweet.
Specifications
Name: Riegers Extra Fine Kansas City Whiskey
Bottler: J. Rieger & Co.
Region/Country: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Type: Blended American Whiskey
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Flavour profile
Sherried · Spicy · Sweet · Round
Did you know?
J. Rieger & Co. was once the largest mail-order whiskey house in the US with over 250,000 customers — a position that vanished with Prohibition and wasn't revived until 95 years later.
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