J. Rieger & Co. recently announced the release of its Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Approximately 6,000 bottles will be available beginning August 16, which is also 816 Day, Kansas City’s annual city celebration named after the city’s area code.
Barreled in the fall of 2015, this Bottled in Bond Rye represents the first whiskey distilled not only by J. Rieger & Co. in nearly a century, but also the first legally distilled whiskey in Kansas City since Prohibition. Rieger’s Rye is milled, distilled, aged, and bottled at J. Rieger & Co. in the historic Electric Park district in Kansas City.
“This product is a tribute to Dave Pickerell, the larger-than-life legendary Master Distiller, who was kind enough to bestow upon us his knowledge and passion for creating the finest whiskeys in America,” said Ryan Maybee, Co-Founder at J. Rieger & Co. “And to Kansas City, our hometown since 1887, for supporting us, believing in us and rooting us on. This is your whiskey to show the world. We’re just getting started.”
“This whiskey is a pot distilled rye that consists of 96% rye and 4% malted barley. We really wanted to showcase the rye which is why we chose to make it a very dominant rye grain bill,” added Nathan Perry, Head Distiller at J. Rieger & Co. “We distilled this rye paying very close attention to the spice that we all know and love from rye whiskeys to make sure what we put in the barrel had the aggressive spice we had hoped for. We believe our team has produced something special and we can’t wait to share it.”
In order for a product to be labeled Bottled in Bond, the alcohol must be a product of one distillation season, by one distiller, at one distillery. It must be aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. Only spirits produced in the United States may be designated as bottled in bonded.
J. Rieger & Co. will host a Rieger’s Rye Release Celebration that is open to the public at the distillery on August 16. The distillery will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for guests to purchase a bottle.
