Whiskey Wednesday

As a whiskey lover, it's wonderful getting whiskey as a gift! It's even better when it comes from someone's hometown. 💞 Rieger’s Kansas City Whiskey, bottled at 92 proof, is composed of several sourced whiskeys older than 7 years—bourbon, rye and even “light whiskey,” which is essentially malt whiskey aged in uncharred new oak barrels. The most unique, aspect, though, is the inclusion of a small amount of 15-year-old Oloroso sherry directly to the final product—how much is not known, except that it’s “not to exceed 2.5%.” According to J. Rieger & Co., this is the revival of a pre-prohibition practice in American whiskey that was meant to contribute both color and flavor to the final product. I don't recall ever trying a whiskey like this before, or I may have and didn't know it.

I found it smooth at the beginning, but a tad harsh at the finish. I enjoyed the sweetness of the sherry at first sip, but it took a bit to get used to the bite at the end. Personally, I could see this being mixed in a cocktail more than drinking it neat or on the rocks.  

The story behind this distillery is quite interesting. The distillery began in Kansas City in 1887, only to meet an early demise in 1919 with the onset of the 18th Amendment and Federal Prohibition. 95 years later, two ambitious young KC guys refused to let Prohibition be the final fate for J. Rieger & Co.
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In 2012 Andy Rieger, Jacob Rieger’s great-great-great grandson (and only living direct descendent at the time), and Ryan Maybee, a career bartender and restaurateur set out to resurrect this historic brand. Together they formed a bond based on their shared vision of re-establishing not only Andy’s family legacy, but also reviving the distilling industry in Kansas City. 

Cheers to a wonderful evening 🥃