The Distillery Story

Founded in 1887 by Jacob Rieger and brought back to life in 2014, J. Rieger & Co. holds a rich legacy as Kansas City’s first distillery since Prohibition. The company was revived by Andy Rieger, the great-great-great-grandson of Jacob Rieger, along with acclaimed bartender Ryan Maybee. Together, they aimed to celebrate their city’s distillation heritage while innovating for a modern audience. Located in the historic Electric Park District of Kansas City, J. Rieger & Co. operates out of the former Heim Brewery's 45,000-square-foot bottling house from 1901, now converted into a state-of-the-art distillery. Their spirits are a testament to tradition and craftsmanship, including their flagship “Kansas City Whiskey,” an homage to their history, and their Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey – aged six years in American white oak barrels. What sets J. Rieger & Co. apart is their dedication to authenticity and innovation, using their 750-gallon copper pot still and aging barrels on-site in Kansas City’s varying seasons. The result? Award-winning spirits like their Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, known for its rich, buttery texture with notes of fruit and sweet elements.