J. Rieger & Co. will launch the first Rieger’s Monogram Whiskey in nearly a hundred years.
A blend of 11-year rye and 9-year corn whiskey, Rieger’s 2017 Monogram Whiskey is finished for 18 months in century-old Olorso Sherry casks supplied by Williams & Humbert, one of the oldest Sherry producers in Jerez, Spain.
The addition of a small amount of Oloroso Sherry to the final blend is a signature of Rieger’s Kansas City Whiskey, the company says. The 2017 release of Rieger’s Monogram is made through a system of fractional blending inspired by the solera system in Jerez, and obtains its character from aging in the casks (or botas) that were part of the Williams & Humbert 15-year Oloroso Sherry solera for the past century.
The Monogram label dates back to the origins of Kansas City whiskey production in the 1800s, the company says.
“For this first release we wanted to push the limits of Sherry as a component of our whiskey, and had the good fortune of obtaining four rare casks from Spain to turn part of our distillery into an active solera,” says Andy Rieger, co-founder of J. Rieger & Co., in a press release.
The 2017 release of Rieger’s Monogram Whiskey blends the rich, deep, dark fruit and nuttiness of the Oloroso Sherry with the spices and confectionary tones of the oak botas, the company says. At 104 proof, dark fruit and caramel notes come together for a creamy, full taste, the company says
Only 1,000 bottles were made. Available at select retailers, the suggested retail price is $99.99 per 750-ml. bottle.
