J. Rieger & Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey
J. Rieger & Co. Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a 45% ABV (90 proof), 750mL straight bourbon distilled, aged and bottled in Kansas City, Missouri — sweet-mash fermented, run through both pot and column stills, and aged at least four years in the distillery's own rickhouse. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 45% (90 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 56% corn, 30% rye, 14% malted barley
- Fermentation: Sweet mash (not sour mash)
- Distillation: Two-step — pot still and column still
- Age: At least 4 years in the Kansas City rickhouse
- Origin: Kansas City, Missouri
A Missouri Bourbon, Made the Sweet-Mash Way
J. Rieger & Co. was a Kansas City institution before Prohibition, and the family revived it in 2014 in the city's historic East Bottoms, determined to give the Midwest a bourbon that could stand next to Kentucky's best. Where most distilleries work from sour mash, Rieger ferments sweet mash — a fresh start for every batch, demanding more control for a smoother, more flavorful whiskey — then marries pot and column distillation for mouthfeel and depth. The result was named Best Craft Bourbon at the 2025 ASCOT Awards. Browse the J. Rieger & Co. collection, the bourbon whiskey shelves, and more whiskey at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Candied citrus and baked bread on the nose, with orange marmalade, cracked pepper and lightly toasted coconut through the palate; the finish turns to mild tobacco and a long, toffee-like sweetness — the high-rye, high-malt mash showing both spice and softness at 90 proof.
How to Enjoy
Approachable neat or on the rocks, and built for classic cocktails — an Old Fashioned or Manhattan where the cracked-pepper spice and toffee finish hold their own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is J. Rieger & Co. bourbon made? In Kansas City, Missouri — distilled, aged, blended and bottled entirely on site at the distillery in the historic East Bottoms, and aged in its Kansas City rickhouse.
What is sweet mash? Instead of carrying over mash from a previous batch (sour mash), each fermentation starts fresh with grain and water. It takes more care and control, and Rieger uses it for a smoother, more flavorful bourbon.
What is the mash bill? 56% corn, 30% rye and 14% malted barley — more rye and malted barley than a typical bourbon, for extra spice and richness.
What is the ABV and size? 45% ABV (90 proof), 750mL.
Kansas City's own straight bourbon, sweet mash and all — order J. Rieger & Co. online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.