J. Rieger & Co. In the News

June 5, 2019
Circulation: 16,310,000

America’s Best New Attractions Worth Traveling For

Anna Archibald

J. Rieger and Co. Distillery Experience

Kansas City, Missouri

Opens July 2019

If Kansas City isn’t at the top of your travel list this summer, you might want reconsider -- if not for the
fantastic BBQ and nightlife, then for this ambitious new distillery experience from J. Rieger & Co., complete
with three bars, a museum, and a 40-foot slide to carry you between floors (seriously).

Located in the former tri-level Heim Brewing Company Bottling Plant -- where the original Rieger whiskey
was bottled in the 1920s -- J. Rieger & Co.’s founders aim to spur a revitalization of not just the 60,000-
square-foot space, but also the historic East Bottoms neighborhood. They’ve enlisted some of the region’s
top talent, including beverage director Andrew Olsen (formerly of James Beard Foundation-recognized
bars Bluestem and Rye), who’s spearheading the draft cocktail program and overseeing an in-house ice
cutting room.

On the ground level, tour where the whiskey, vodka, gin, and Caffè Amaro are made; sample the wares at
the Tasting Room bar; sip your way through a local history exhibit; and blend your own bottle of keepsake
whiskey. Upstairs, kick back with a classic cocktail -- like the regionally famous Horsefeather, which is
something of a mule, made with whiskey, ginger beer, lemon, and bitters -- at The Monogram Lounge, a
200-seat area that will also feature full coffee service and plenty of sustenance throughout the day. If you’re
looking for a cozier vibe and an elevated menu, check out The Hey Hey Club in the basement, which pays
homage to Kansas City jazz culture and the 1930s venue for which its named. -- Anna Archibald

January 10, 2020
Circulation: 1,900,000

Best New Attraction

The top 10 winners in the category Best New Attraction are as follows:
1. Springfield History Museum on the Square - Springfield, Mo.
2. American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog - New York
3. The Hunger Games: The Exhibition - Las Vegas
4. Allianz Field - St. Paul

5. J. Rieger & Co. - Kansas City, Mo.

6. SoundWaves at Gaylord Opryland - Nashville
7. Tidal Cove Waterpark - Aventura, Fla.
8. Otherworld - Columbus, Ohio
9. ArtsWorcester - Worcester, Mass.
10. Chuck Williams Culinary Arts Museum - Napa, Calif.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners
were determined by popular vote.

Congratulations to all these winning attractions!

January 29, 2020
Circulation: 118,400,000

From water parks to distilleries, these are 10 of the best new attractions

From water parks and theme parks to museums and performance spaces, travelers were treated to a host
of new attractions in 2019. With the help of a panel of travel experts, 10Best.com combed the country for
the best new attractions of the year. Then, readers determined the top 10 by popular vote. Scroll to see the
10 favorite new attractions.

No. 5: J. Rieger & Co. in Kansas City, Missouri. While J. Rieger & Co. was founded in 1887, the famed
whiskey distillery opened the doors to its new distilling facility in the Heim Brewery’s old bottling house over
the summer of 2019. Visitors can tour the distillery, learn about the history of the company in a 3,000-
square-foot exhibit and sample spirits from several onsite bars.

October 18, 2018
Circulation: 145,750

Discover Kansas City: The City of Fountains

To those unfamiliar with the Missouri metropolis, Kansas City might call to mind a few associations:
Barbecue. Jazz. The fact that there's another, smaller Kansas City in Kansas (it's all part of the same metro
area…yeah, we were confused, too). And while it absolutely has all those things, it also boasts wide
boulevards, world-class art and really good tacos. Here's everything you need to add to your agenda on a
visit to the vibrant Midwestern hot spot.

Make a wish at one of the many, many fountains
If you notice an abundance of water features around town, that's because K.C. has, oh, 200 of them. (Its
official nickname is The City of Fountains.) Among the most notable are the equestrian-themed J.C. Nichols
Memorial Fountain (built by a French sculptor in 1910) and the Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain in front of
Union Station, whose 232 concentric water jets put on an ever-changing display.

Get artsy
Spend an afternoon wandering the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, notable for, among other things,
distinctive architecture, an extensive Asian art collection and a sculpture garden that includes four giant
badminton shuttlecocks. The nearby Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art houses more than 700 works
from artists like Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler and Frank Stella. You'll find an extra dose of culture
throughout the city through October 28, thanks to Open Spaces, the city's newly inaugurated biennial arts
festival.

Drink like a local
Fun fact: Kansas City famously said “nah, we're good" to Prohibition, so drinking is effectively part of the
city's cultural fabric. Take a tour at Boulevard Brewing; beer geeks should be sure to sample the complex,
extra-boozy pours from the Smokestack Series. If spirits are your jam, head to J. Rieger & Co., a legendary
pre-Prohibition distillery that was resurrected in 2010 (with help from a descendant of J. Rieger himself), for
whiskey, gin, vodka and Caffe Amaro (a bittersweet coffee liqueur).

Soak up the city's jazz past (and present)
Thanks in part to its unique, nightclub-friendly status in the '20s and '30s (see above), and heavyweights
like K.C. native Charlie Parker, the city boasts a rich musical history, much of it centered around the 18th
and Vine neighborhood. Pay homage at the Charlie Parker memorial and the American Jazz Museum, then
catch a live show at the Blue Room (inside the museum) or the Green Lady Lounge.

Check out City Market
There are farmers' markets, and then there's this massive institution, which has been operating as a hub
for local vendors since 1857. Along with a bounty of produce and flowers from nearby farms, you'll find
dozens of eateries ranging from Ethiopian to Brazilian. It also shares the space with a surprising tenant:
the Arabia Steamboat Museum, which showcases 200 tons of artifacts salvaged from an 1856 shipwreck
in the Missouri River.

Eat barbecue
Anthony Bourdain called Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que one of the 13 places you need to eat before you die.
The legendary spot—located in a gas station—is famous for its burnt ends and Z-man sandwich (brisket,
Provolone and onion rings). For a new-school take on smoked meat, check out Q39, where the chef taps
both his classical culinary training and years on the barbecue competition circuit to perfect dishes like a
burnt-end burger and house-made chipotle sausage.

November 26, 2018
Circulation: 9,650,000

Bartenders Tell Us Which Distilleries To Visit This Winter

Christopher Osburn

The fall and winter just seem to leave us lusting for travel. Earlier, we wrote about road tripping to
breweries during these colder months. This week, we direct our attention to beer’s higher-alcohol-content
sibling — liquor.

The United States is dotted with distilleries. Just like the craft brewing boom gave birth to countless
breweries across the country, the craft distilling boom has done the same. Wherever you live, there’s sure
to be a small, medium, or giant distillery just waiting for you discover.

In order to figure out which direction to point our cars (or where to fly to), we asked some of our
favorite bartenders to tell us the best distilleries to visit this season.

J. Rieger & Co
Brock Schulte, bartender at The Monarch Cocktail Bar & Lounge in Kansas City, Missouri

“What’s the best distillery for booze fans to visit? My personal favorite distillery in KC is J. Rieger & Co. and
I’m sure more cool things are to come with the expansion in 2019.”

February 19, 2020
Circulation: 12,000,000

See Which Projects won a 2020 Capstone Award

By Ellen Cagle – Specials Editor, Kansas City Business Journal
Feb 19, 2020, 3:43pm CST Updated 6 hours ago
Two weeks ago, the Kansas City Business Journal announced the 30 projects given a Capstone Award for projects
completed in 2019. Now, KCBJ has unlocked the list of honorees so everyone can view it.
This year's Capstone Awards honor projects completed throughout the metro area. To be honored, each project had to
be move-in ready by the end of 2019. This year's awards program revives a category that hasn't had a winner in
several years: Transaction.
A reception celebrating the winning projects and the teams behind them will be held March 24 at the Arvest Bank
Theatre at The Midland.
These are the honorees sorted by category:
Adaptive re-use

• 4200 Penn
• J. Rieger & Co. expansion
• Olathe Indian Creek Library

Category: Adaptive Re-use
Project Name: J. Rieger & Co. expansion
Location: 2700 Guinotte Ave., Kansas City











435 MAGAZINE

Monday, October 01, 2018

e HIT THE (LOCAL) BOTTLE

Tom's Town
Distilling Co.

T he people were thirsty during the Prohibition era, and
according to David Epstein and Steve Revare, the co­
founders and partners of Tom's Town Distilling Co., they're
still thirsty. In 2016, Epstein (whose grandfather was
a bootlegger and was driven out ofbusiness by Boss
Tom) andRevare (whose great-great-uncle prosecuted
Pendergast for tax evasion in 1939) opened their glamorous
art deco-inspired distillery and tasting room, capitalizing on
their serendipitous history and Kansas City's affinity for all
things mafia. Today, guests can tour the downtown distillery
and enjoy craft cocktails made with Pendergast's Royal
Gold Bourbon, McElroy's Corruption Gin and Eli's Strongarm
Vodka - products named for Boss Tom and his cohorts.

1701 Main St., Kansas City I toms-town.com

e
J. RieJ(er � Co.
Distillery

Jacob Rieger & Company was originally founded in 1887 and
ran a booming distilling business until Prohibition forced it to
close in 1919. In 2014, the brand was resurrected by business
partners Ryan Maybee (of Manifesto fame) and Andy Rieger,
the great-great-great-grandson of Jacob �ieger, who built a
new distillery in the historic Electric Park district within the
East Bottoms of Kansas City.
TKoadnasya,sJC. Ritieyv�errns&keCyo, .'Ms iadwwaersdt-ewrninDnirnygGpinro, dCuacfftes such as
Amaro and
Premium Wheat Vodka are distributed across 20 states. This
summer, J. Rieger & Co. announced plans to renovate and
expand its current space; when it's finished in the spring of
2019, the facility will quintuple its average daily production
capacity. You know what that means: J.Rieger & Co. is
prepared to supply the whole world with premium Kansas
City booze.

2700 Guinotte Ave., Kansas City I jriegerco.com

OCTOBER 2018 • 435MAG.COM 109 Page 2 of 2

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All Rights Reserved.
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January 10, 2019
Circulation: 12,000

Top Whiskey Distilleries in Kansas City, MO

Mary Ann Talaman

The legacy of Kansas City distilleries is nearly as old as the city itself. It is a story full of late-night jazz
performances, political machines, bootleggers as well as nicknames such as “The Wettest Block in the
World!”
And although times may have changed, modernity still brought the city to the forefront of craft spirits scenes,
thanks to award-winning and down-to-earth liquor production operations and yearning drinkers!
So, grab a seat and get ready to plunge in on high-quality booze from top whiskey distilleries in Kansas
City, MO!

2. J. Rieger & Co. Distillery
2700 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120, USA

Kansas City Whiskey

In the year 1887, the J. Rieger & Co. Distillery was founded in the West Bottoms and re-emerged from the
past of Prohibition in the year 2014 with a sherry-blended liquor they call Rieger’s Kansas City Whiskey.
Ever since then, the countrywide-praised company, which is now based in East Bottoms, has offered
several other products, including vodka and gin as well as experimental spirits like Left for Dead and coffee
liquor— which are all available at bars and restaurants throughout the metro area.

February 25, 2020
Circulation: 55,030

Here are the 43 best kept secrets in Kansas City

Nicole Bradley

Think you’ve been everywhere and seen everything in Kansas City?

You haven’t, we promise. Chances are, you’ve only been scratching the surface.

Here are 43 secrets of Kansas City, from the haunting truth behind a canceled play at a local high school
to a little-known shop selling returned Amazon products for pennies.

Some of these items are hidden gems, others are local urban legends of widely varying degrees of truth.
All are worth knowing about if you love Kansas City.

40. Heim Brewery may not have closed
Last July, J. Rieger & Co. in KCMO expanded its distillery into the historic Heim Brewery’s bottling house
in the East Bottoms. The brewery closed after the onset of Prohibition… or did it?

While renovating the building, the Rieger team busted down a brick wall in the basement and excavated
the space to find a four-hundred-and-fifty-foot tunnel tall enough to stand in. Seemingly, they had uncovered
a massive illegal alcohol transport operation.

“Ultimately, [the tunnel] connected the entire brewery operation via underground tunnel system during
Prohibition,” owner Andy Rieger says. “I have various documentation that leads me to believe it was used
to move illegally produced alcohol from our building through the tunnel and up a manhole.” -Nicole Bradley















SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 | MODERN DISTILLERY AGE VOLUME 9 | NUMBER 29

J. Rieger & Co. to Open New Distillery China Leads the Way
& Hospitality Center in Kansas City’s
for Beverage Alcohol
Historic Electric Park
Ecommerce
J. Rieger & Co. has announced plans for a large-scale expansion of its Special to Modern Distillery Age by IWSR, www.theiwsr.com
Kansas City, Mo., facility through a renovation of its current distillery space
and the adjoining historic Heim Brewery bottling house in the Electric Park Online alcohol sales are developing fast in China,
neighborhood. When completed next spring, the expansion will quintuple growing at around 15% per year, according to the
average daily production capacity while offering a new brand experience IWSR Ecommerce Study: A strategic roadmap for
that celebrates the history and legacy of both J. Rieger & Co. and Kansas City. alcoholic beverages, which provides the first in-depth
The former Heim Brewery bottling house is listed on the National Register of insight into the highly dynamic ecommerce sector for
Historic Places and is a landmark of pre-Prohibition industrial construction. beverage alcohol.

Looking to keep pace with consumer demand since opening in 2014, Of the ten countries researched in the first part of
J. Rieger & Co. has expanded distribution to 20 states, and it now ranks in the the study, the largest ecommerce market for alcoholic
top 10% of distilleries in the country by sales volume. beverages by some margin is China, at $6.1 billion.
This is four times the size of the U.S. beverage alcohol
“This project is a true catalyst for change at our distillery and for the once ecommerce market, and three times the size of the
vibrant Electric Park neighborhood,” said Andy Rieger, co-founder of J. Rieger
& Co., the great-great-great-grandson of the original distillery owner. “Our continued on page 2
expansion allows us to continue to meet increased production demands,
while also hosting the many spirits lovers in our community and beyond who Distilled Spirits
want to participate in our brand story. We’re not just restoring a building,
we’re reviving a long-forgotten legacy in Electric Park and inviting visitors to Council on the North-
enjoy world-class spirits and hospitality while celebrating the past.”
American Interfraternity
The new brand experience and hospitality center at J. Rieger & Co.
will showcase the distillery’s production process while offering guests Conference’s New Alcohol
the opportunity to learn about its history and ties to Kansas City and the
surrounding Electric Park neighborhood. The three-floor renovation of the Policy
Heim building will include front-row views of the production facility together “The North-American Interfraternity Conference is
with daily distillation tours, tastings and spirits education; multiple bar, to be commended for taking steps to address alcohol
lounge and cocktail spaces; event spaces for private meetings and events; an abuse among fraternity members, but to be effective,
interactive historic exhibit; and a gift shop. The total size of the combined policies should treat all forms of alcohol equally,”
production and hospitality facility will encompass 60,000 square feet, an according to a statement from the Distilled Spirits
increase from 15,000 square feet, and will host up to 100,000 guests annually. Council’s Interim CEO, Clarkson Hine.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the former Heim Brewery “While well-intentioned, implementing a policy
bottling house is part of a pre-Prohibition brewery complex that was once that bans distilled spirits products while continuing to
the largest in the western U.S. The building is known for its soaring, vaulted permit beer and wine is misguided and not supported
windows and elegant façade, all features which will be preserved together with by the science,” Hine’s statement read. “Such an
approach sends a misleading message that some
continued on page 2 forms of alcohol are ‘softer’ than others and undercuts
equivalence information in the U.S. Dietary Guidelines
and the majority of college alcohol education
materials, which teach students that 12 ounces of
regular beer, five ounces of wine and a cocktail with
1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits each contains the
same amount of alcohol.

“We share the commitment demonstrated by
college administrators and fraternities to address
alcohol abuse on campus. In doing so, college
students of legal drinking age must recognize that
all forms of alcohol can and should be consumed
responsibly, and that the consequences of alcohol
abuse are attributable to the consumption pattern,
not the type of alcohol consumed.”

J. Rieger & Co. Amazon has quickly filled the gap TTB believes this unlawful inducement
resulted in the exclusion of products sold
continued from page 1 in markets where there has been little by Skokie Valley Beverage’s competitors.
Skokie Valley Beverage has not admitted to
much of the original flooring and brickwork impetus from existing retailers to move into these allegations.

in the interior. The neighborhood is named ecommerce. This is the case in Germany, TTB reminds industry members with FAA
Act basic permits that they are required to
for Electric Park, one of the country’s first where it already has more than 50% share. file amended applications when there are
changes in ownership and control, and that
fully-illuminated amusement parks dating Amazon is also making gains in other major permits terminate automatically 30 days
after unreported changes in ownership
back to 1899. It featured a roller coaster, a markets, including Japan, the U.K., Spain and and control.

2,500-seat theater to host performers such Italy. Premium products, such as spirits and

as John Philip Sousa, a large-scale water wine, are a core focus for Amazon, who have

fountain and fireworks each night to signal dedicated category management teams

the park’s closing. Relocated in 1907 to a staffed by ex-retailers.

larger site, Electric Park’s gardens, displays Wine is the major alcoholic beverage

and fountain works entertained millions and category sold online, typically with 60% to Nielsen: Drink

inspired Kansas City native Walt Disney in 70% share of online beverage alcohol sales.

the design of Disneyland. return to page 1 Jack Daniel’s leads the pack in terms of online Occasions Are on the

beverage alcohol brands, and the leading

Ecommerce beer brand in our survey was Heineken; Decline for Younger
continued from page 1
both are well-recognized global brands with Millennials
next-largest markets of France and the U.K.
These two countries are the most mature, strong digital marketing support, which is
taking the highest percentage of off-trade
sales derived from ecommerce activity. deployed at a global and country level. Genevieve Lee Aronson, Nielsen

The Chinese online beverage alcohol Across the ten markets, expected growth While consumers between the ages of
market is concentrated, with the leading
two players, Tmall and JD, sharing over 70% rates for 2017-2020 vary from 9% to 10% per 21-24 have historically been one of the
of the market between them. The combined
share of these players is three times the annum in the more established markets of most active groups in the on-premise,
size of the entire U.S. beverage alcohol
online channel. the U.K. and France, and from 20% to 40% new data from Nielsen CGA is showing

In the U.S., at present, online sales per annum in the newer, less-developed that preferences within this age group are
represent only 1% of off-premise beverage
alcohol sales but are growing at double- ecommerce markets. return to page 1 shifting, with more consumers opting to go
digit rates as consumer demand increases
and state and federal level restrictions to a bar or restaurant for a bite to eat versus
on alcohol distribution out-of-state
ease slightly. TTB Trade Practice going out for a drink.

France’s online share of its off-premise Investigation According to Nielsen CGA’s recently
alcohol sales is the highest at nearly 9%, due
to the successful development of the “click- Identifies Wholesaler released On-Premise User Survey (OPUS), an
and-drive”model by the major supermarkets
such as E. Leclerc and Carrefour. In addition, Operating Without a astonishing one in four American consumers
there is a thriving online wine sector, with
over 400 specialist ecommerce sites. Permit within the age of 21-24 (the youngest subset

In the U.K., wine and beer are purchased On August 29, TTB informed Skokie of the Millennial generation) haven’t been
relatively frequently as part of the online Valley Beverage, a Wheeling, Ill., alcohol
grocery shop, with Tesco and Asda being beverage distributor, that it does not out for a drink-led occasion in the last three
the leading players in online alcoholic drinks currently hold a valid wholesaler basic
sales. There are many well-established permit due to unreported changes in months, meaning that for many young
specialist wine retailers such as Majestic and ownership and control, and that continued
The Wine Society, who have fast-growing operations without a valid permit may Millennials, the main purpose of their visit
online operations. constitute a criminal offense under
Title 27 USC 207. to a bar or restaurant isn’t for a drink, but
The IWSR’s 2018 Ecommerce Consumer
Survey shows that online purchase Skokie Valley Beverage’s lack of a valid for food.
frequency is low in most markets, with only basic permit came to light subsequent to
China and the U.K. having more than 50% of joint operations that TTB conducted with While drinking out in this age group
consumers purchasing at least monthly or the Illinois Liquor Control Commission in
more. The primary motivating factor across September 2017. saw a 7% decline versus the last two years,
most markets is convenience, ahead of price.
TTB’s trade practice investigation revealed monthly dining out habits have increased
evidence that Skokie Valley Beverage had
violated the tied house provisions of the within the on-premise this year.
FAA Act by allegedly providing an unlawful
inducement to retailers through a third Regardless of their lower income, this
party. Specifically, TTB contends that Skokie
Valley Beverage paid a slotting allowance year’s survey results show that 21-24-year-
for placement of its malt beverage
brands on draft at three retail locations. olds are eating out almost as often as the

25-34 age group, reinforcing to food service

establishments that this consumer set is one

to watch.

Gaining Visibility with the

Dining Crowd

To continue capturing drink sales,

suppliers need to get creative with a shifted

focus on tailoring brand messages and

promotions around eating occasions. Bar-

focused promotions (think food and drink

specials only available at the bar) are an

effective method to get consumers in front

of a bartender, increasing the chance of

drink ordering. continued on page 3

2 SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 | MODERN DISTILLERY AGE

September 10,2018
Circulation: 255,080

J Rieger & Co to increase production by 500%

American spirits producer J Rieger & Co has announced plans to renovate its Kansas City facility in order
to quintuple average daily production capacity.

J Rieger & Co will renovate its facility in order to increase production by 500%
The whiskey maker will develop its current facility as well as the adjoining Heim Brewery bottling house in
the Electric Park neighborhood of Kansas City.
The renovations, due for completion in spring 2019, will allow the distillery to expand its production by 500%
and will offer whiskey fans a “vibrant, new brand experience” that celebrates the history of J Rieger & Co.
Andy Rieger, co-founder of J Rieger & Co, said: “This project is a true catalyst for change at our distillery
and for the once vibrant Electric Park neighborhood.
“Our expansion allows us to continue to meet increased production demands, while also hosting the many
spirits lovers in our community and beyond who want to participate in our brand story.
“We’re not just restoring a building; we’re reviving a long-forgotten legacy in Electric Park and inviting
visitors to enjoy world-class spirits and hospitality while celebrating the past.”
The new visitor experience will showcase the distillery’s production processes, while offering guests the
opportunity to learn about J Rieger & Co’s history and its ties to Kansas City and the surrounding Electric
Park neighbourhood.
As part of the development, the distillery will renovate the three-floor Heim building, which will include views
of the production facility, distillery tours, exhibition spaces, tastings, multiple bars and event spaces for
private parties.
The total size of the site will be 60,000 square feet, allowing the distillery to host up to 100,000 guests
annually.

February 28, 2020
Circulation: 251,800

Sporting Kansas City Whiskey Distilled From Unique Partnership

Pat Evans

Over multiple nights of whiskeys, J. Rieger & Co. Owner Andy Rieger and Sporting Kansas City President
and CEO Jake Reid solved at least one of the world’s problems.

The Kansas City distillery and the MLS team agreed to enter into a partnership not driven by money, but
rather shared growth objectives and a love for their city. The keystone of the deal is Sporting Kansas City
Whiskey – an “easy layup” when the distillery’s whiskey is already called KC Whiskey.

“It truly started in our barrel warehouse, tasting some samples just talking,” Rieger said. “They were in the
middle of a sponsorship and we have long-term vision, so I said, ‘As long as you’re getting good money,
don’t mess with us. We don’t fit into a box, we want to be a change of direction.”

The three-year deal doesn’t have a traditional sponsorship fee. Instead, both brands expect to drive value
through mutually-beneficial collaborations, knowledge exchange and revenue shares, like co-branded
whiskey and expanded concession programs.

A big piece of the deal is Sporting Kansas City has a local ownership group with “hypersensitivity” when it
comes to plugging in with local brands, Reid said. The new spirits partnership kicked off with a season-
opening party with more than 1,000 fans.

“Are partnerships defined by writing a check or doing cool things that bring fans together?” Reid asked.
“That was the guiding light of how we got here.”

Rieger is nothing short of blunt when it comes to the traditional sports sponsorship model.

“With sports teams it’s, ‘Here’s my box, my price, do you want a logo or not,’” Rieger said. “It’s the old way
of thinking and there’s nothing wrong with it.

“Overall, it seems like sports teams look at themselves as the big brother, as opposed to let’s do something
cool together. ”

The partnership stems from an alignment of local strategies, Dae Hee Kwak, University of Michigan
associate professor of sport management, said.

“They share the same core values of being a Kansas City brand, share the same target audience, and most
importantly, the exclusive merchandise will help fuel fan experience throughout numbers of hospitality
events on game days and non-game days,” Kwak said. “It is an ideal case where both Sporting KC and the
distillery’s business objectives, brand identity, and target audiences are well-aligned. Not all sponsorships
have that.”

READ MORE: 49ers Embrace Local With New Partnerships, Including Gold Bar Whiskey

Sporting Kansas City’s Reid knows the distillery is still hoping to move bottles of product to Sporting
supporters, but he’s excited about the extra capabilities the distillery is lending to the team.

Of those is help on a greatly renovated concessions program for the team’s home field at Children’s Mercy
Park.

Sporting Kansas City overhauled its concession stands and menus in the “biggest change” to the stadium
since it opened in 2011. J. Rieger & Co. contributed the spirits and cocktail recipes, as well as guided the
team’s hospitality employees on best practices for bartenders and servers.

The team also updated the venue’s technology, including the wireless internet throughout the building.

“Despite what our fans think, we listen to feedback and wanted to address their need for creativity and new
offerings,” Reid said. “We tried to turn it on its head a bit. Each stand is unique and has a lot of local
partnerships.”

As with the sponsorships, Rieger said sports venue concessions, in general, need some rethinking.

“A lot of teams see there’s a monopoly and fans have to buy whatever and eat,” he said. “But what if you
have an awesome bar experience, would people decide rather than tailgate they come buy a few more
drinks.”

Reid will look at several metrics to determine if the J. Rieger & Co. deal works in the long run, but said it’s
already “a huge success in a short amount of time,” as the co-branded whiskey is hard to find in the local
market – there were only 4,000 bottles made to start.

“This is an example of ‘let’s go to market together’ and make it a stronger offering than each doing it
individually,” Reid said, conceding the distillery is still looking for an uptick in bottle sales.

Despite the Sporting Kansas City sponsorship, J. Rieger & Co. isn’t considering a large portfolio of teams.
For Rieger, it’s more about supporting a local team and helping foster a community between fans of the
two Kansas City brands.

“Ever since we announced the partnerships, sports teams are calling me assuming we’re cutting big
checks,” Rieger said. “I’m saying no every time, I don’t want that type of relationship.”



June 1, 2018
Circulation: 826,907

The Expert’s Guide to Special Whiskies for Father’s Day Gifting

Katie Kelly Bell

It’s time to start shopping for the Father’s Day whiskey gift and the miles of
choices might well leave you wishing you’d just bought the man a pair of socks.
Whiskey lovers are an opinionated bunch but the courage of their convictions
comes from years of tasting trial and error, so I asked some experts to weigh in
with their top choices for Father’s Day this year. The answers ranged from
Japanese and French selections to 100% American made whiskies. These aren't
necessarily impossible to find or obscenely expensive, just unusual but always
delicious--perfect options for the dad who’s tried it all before.

Founder and Master Distiller of Portland Oregon based House Spirits Distillery Christian Krogstad recommends
Ichiro's Malt, Chichibu On The Way—a Japanese single malt whisky. Of course, his first choice would be his own
grain-to-glass Westward American Single Malt Whiskey. Made with Pacific Northwest two-row barley, fermented with
American ale yeast, double pot distilled and matured in new American oak barrels it’s about as authentically local and
patriotic a whiskey you can get.

Andrew Weir, brand leader for Aberlour Whisky leans towards a West Virginian option, Smooth Ambler Contradiction.
“As a new dad, I’m getting very sentimental with my whisky choices these days. Whisky for me is the perfect punctuation
to every special moment in life. Once the basic criteria of “tastes good” has been met, I lean to distilleries that are
exploring new distilling and maturation techniques, challenging convention and bringing whisky production to
unexpected places. Made in West Virginia, Smooth Ambler’s Contradiction is a blend of two very unexpected whiskies:
a wheated bourbon and a bourbon made with Rye. A delicious way to defy convention.” Of course he’s most partial
to Aberlour A’Bunadh.A’Bunadh means “of the origin” in Gaelic. This cask strength (each batch is typically bottled at
around 120 proof), 100% Sherry cask matured Scotch “packs a punch,” notes Weir, “but in the most pleasant and
unexpected ways. Around since the 1990’s, A’Bunadh was a true pace-setter for the industry and changed the way
whisky drinkers thought about the strength of whisky and the way it is matured.

If you want to go with the All American gift theme, consider the multiple award-winning selections from Virginia
Distillery Company. Most recently their Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whiskywon “America’s Best Blended
Malt” at the World Whiskies Awards. They were also recognized with “Highly Commended” in the Craft Producer of
the Year category for Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky America 2018 Awards. Also look for their Cider Cask Finished
Virginia-Highland Whisky which was named “Best of Class” in the Certified Craft Blended Spirits category at this year’s
American Distilling Institute.

WhistlePig forged a name for itself by crafting rich and deeply complex rye whiskey and the trend of excellence
continues with The Boss Hog IV, which won “Best in Show Whiskey” at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits
Competition. The distilling team characterizes the Boss Hog as “the most profound whiskey in the portfolio,” made from
rye whiskey finished in French Armagnac casks. The 15 Year Straight Rye is WhistlePig’s oldest whiskey and the first to
be aged in Vermont Estate Oak harvested directly from the farm.

For a whiskey aged in century-old Sherry botas consider Kansas City-based J. Rieger’s 2018 Monogram Oloroso---a
very limited annual series that features unique and innovative Whiskey expressions. The 2018 Monogram Oloroso Bota
is finished for up to 30 months in Sherry botas, originally gifted to the distillery by Williams & Humbert, one of the oldest
producers in Jerez, Spain. The blend consists of 10-year old corn whiskey and a blend of 5 and 11-year old straight rye
whiskeys.

WINE ENTHUSIAST

Saturday, September 01, 2018

thecrush

JUST ADD GRAPE

6SINPftiItROJIIfTNHS6� HANGAR l ROS� FLAVORED VODKA
$32
A growing number of
liquor producers are The California vodka maker launched
adding a splash of wine this carnation-pink splrrt In February. It
to their bottlings. Here's contains 5% Callfornla r� wine, which
a look at four hybrids lends a fleeting.Juicy cranberry note.
that.,combine the best
at DO worlds. The bottling Is "inspired by the Bay
Area;·saysHeadDlstlllerCaley Shoemaker.
KaraNewman ·our Hangar l Straight Vodka Is made from
a Californian grape distillate, which means
we work with many local farmers and
neighboring winemakers."

BASIL HAYDEN'S DARK RYE
$40

The first permanent addition to the
Basil Hayden portfolio mixes a splash of
(alifornla Port-style wine with Kentucky
and Canadian rye whiskeys.

The producer claims that it's"designed
to stand out in the ever-expanding crowd
of American whiskeys." The end result: a
ruddy hue and warming caramel-cherry
flavor profile. recommended to mix
Into a Boulevardier with Camparl and
sweet vermouth.

JRIEGER & CO. KANSAS CITY WHISKEY
$40

A small amount of 15-year-old oloroso
Sherry (about 2%) adds roundness and
complexity to this blend of Bourbon. rye
and a 10-year-old light corn whiskey. The
ingredients are sourced elsewhere. but
blended in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rieger Co-founder Ryan Maybee
says that Kansas City-style whiskey
has contained Sherry since at least as
earlyas the1800s. when straight whiskey
was hard to find. "It was a way to pay
tribute to roots,"' he says, although, "it
also adds a treme s amount offlavor."

Made In Australia. this _pry gin is distilled

With Juice from Yarra va11ey Shiraz grapes
(but not actual wine The end result

bears a disl1nct ce to a spiced,

sweetened sloe gin.

"People asked us w

get aroood to making a

Founder/lllstlller Cameron Mac

"We don't grow sloe benies in Australia.

but we do have grapes. The Shiraz

grapes are medium-bodied and don't kill
the Sin."

Page 1 of 1

© 201 8 WINE ENTHUSIAST
All Rights Reserved.

Account: 20908 (15975)
-5023

For reprints or rights, please contact the publisher

November 8, 2019
Circulation: 1,900,000

THE BEST AMERICAN WHISKEY UNDER $50

You know who knows best which bottles to buy? The people who pour and sell drinks—that’s who. We
asked dozens of top bartending and spirits industry professionals to tell us which bottles they love and why.

Heads up: The numerical order below is not organized by importance or quality; it’s an alphabetical list, not
a ranking. Prices are averages and can vary from state to state.

5: RIEGER’S KANSAS CITY ($37)
“This is a unique label as it’s a blend of straight bourbon, straight rye and light corn whiskey and then
finished with oloroso sherry (not aged in sherry casks—sherry is added after distillation). The result is a
nutty sweetness and incredible drinkability. It’s like a bottled Old Fashioned. Buy it. Buy it now.”—Sother
Teague, beverage director at Amor y Amargo, Blue Quarter, HoneyBee's and Windmill in New York City

December 31, 2018
Circulation: 67,080

Top Tasted Whiskies in 2018

INTRODUCTION
As we approach the new year once again there are all kinds of whiskey “best of” – “best value” – “best

NAS” – “best craft” lists – and this listing of descriptors, likewise, could go on and on. Well, Jeremy and I

thought we’d join in – what’s one more “best of” list anyway. If you hate such things – sorry, just turn your

attention elsewhere, but if you have an interest in things whiskey related and want to hear a couple guy’s

opinions (and I stress opinion here) please read on.

This writing marks just under two years since Jeremy and I began a duo-style review effort about World
Whiskies for ModernThirst. That does not mean we have tasted only non-American or World Whiskies – far
from it. I compiled an ongoing list of all the whiskies that I have personally tasted throughout 2018 via our
whiskey club meetings, ModernThirst reviews, distillery visits, advent calendar, various whiskey events, etc.
and I finished the year with 350 different whiskies tasted. When including Jeremy in that tally, between the
two of us, we easily exceeded 400 and I would venture are close to 500 whiskies overall. To break that 350
down even further for the whiskies I tasted this year, it included: 138 different bottles of scotch; 127
bourbons, ryes, or American whiskies; 31 Japanese whiskies; 29 American Single Malts; 17 Irish; and 8
that I would label as World Whiskies (Indian and Taiwanese) for the purposes of this review.

For this listing of Top Whiskies tasted in 2018, Jeremy and I did not coordinate on our lists. The lists were
compiled separately, and I then combined them for this recap. I highlighted the word ‘tasted’ above,
because this is not a best of list of 2018 released whiskies. These are our favorites in the category
breakouts tasted in the year of 2018. Last year I limited each group to a top 3 – Jeremy stuck to that for his
list this year – but for me, in a couple categories (where many different offerings were tasted), and overall,
I went higher with up to 6 whiskies which still equals a small percentage of whiskies tasted in those
categories. In some of the areas below only one of us may have submitted a list (or as in my case I
combined American – excluding American Single Malts into one category).

There are several category breakouts for our lists: American Single Malts, Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, Irish,
Japanese, World Whiskies, and then our Overall Top Whiskies lists for the year.

Again, as I noted last year in our first effort on a “best of” list – these are just our opinions – everyone’s
tastes are different. We had fun compiling our lists from all the whiskies we tasted – and it was also
fascinating to see those areas where we agreed in our rankings. Thirty-three different whiskies made the
cut to be included (and four whiskies made both or our lists). I personally sat down with my top whiskies in
each group and overall to re-taste them comparatively to come up with my rankings. Those whiskies that
have been previously reviewed by Jeremy and I, or others, on ModernThirst are linked (just click on the
name and you can go to the full review).

Bourbon / Rye / American Whiskies
Wes – Combined List

1. Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel – 130.9 proof
2. Old Forester 1897 and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2016 (yes, I tasted 1920)
3. Distillery 291 Bad Guy Batch #3 or Batch #4
4. Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon finished in Oloroso, PX, and Cognac casks
5. Distillery 291 Colorado Barrel Proof (any barrel)
6. J. Rieger Monogram 2018 Oloroso Bota

October 31, 2019
Circulation: 7,600,000

The Best Whiskeys to Substitute For Candy This Halloween

Christopher Osburn

We all love gorging ourselves on handfuls of Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, and Skittles in the days leading
up to (and after) Halloween. Even as an adult, you’d have to be insane to turn down free candy. But you’re
also grown now and sugar hangovers are legit worse than booze hangovers.

You’ve got to pace yourself. With a healthy amount of whiskey, obviously.

When we drink whiskey on Halloween, we look for expressions that remind us of our favorite candies.
Evgeny Anisimov, bartender at Park Hyatt Aviara in Carlsbad, California agrees with that approach —
opting for whiskeys aged in rum or sherry barrels.

“These barrel programs give the expressions a beautiful aroma of butterscotch, maple, and caramel,” he
says. “The result is very soft and smooth whiskeys that make wonderful after-dinner drinks.”

Other bartenders look for different candy-centric qualities in their Halloween whiskeys. So we asked some
of our favorites pros to tell us the best whiskeys to substitute for candy this Halloween.

Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

Seth Weinberg, head bartender at Bourbon Steak in Nashville

I prefer whiskey to candy or any dessert for that matter. Lots of
American Bourbons and straight whiskies have a perceived
sweetness as their ingredients are often sweet grains like corn and
wheat. Also, American whiskies that are aged in new charred oak
barrels will generally be full-bodied and sweet.

One brand that I think is a great substitute for candy is Rieger’s
Kansas City Whiskey. They blend a bourbon, rye and corn whiskey
with 15-year-old Oloroso Sherry. It’s smooth with a slightly sweet

and nutty finish. Truly reminiscent of certain candy bars.

July 3, 2019
Circulation: 1,700,000

The 10 Best Whiskies For Boulevardiers

Taylor Tobin

One of the biggest cocktail fads of the last few years has got to be the rise of the Negroni. This classic
Italian aperitif combines gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and an orange slice, resulting in a refreshing and
bittersweet libation ideal for warm afternoons and evenings.

While the Negroni’s gin base brings appealing aromatic notes to the cocktail, those who prefer brown liquors
may want to try the Boulevardier, a popular spin on this beverage that replaces gin with whiskey. The smoky
wood notes of rye and bourbon pair harmoniously with the herbaceous and citrus-forward flavor profile of
this drink, but because the tastes of whiskies can vary so dramatically, it’s important to choose a spirit that’s
especially well-suited to the Holy Trinity of Campari, vermouth, and citrus.

With that goal in mind, we asked a group of bartenders for their favorite Boulevardier whiskies, and they
offered us 10 options well worth a valued position behind your home bar.
J. Rieger Kansas City Whiskey

Cocktail legend Sother Teague of Honeybee’s in New York City enjoys high-
rye bourbons in the Boulevardiers he makes at work, but when he’s whipping
up a Boulevardier for himself to enjoy at home, “[I use] J. Reiger Kansas City
Whiskey. This bottling is entirely unique, as the maker adds Oloroso sherry to
the finished product. This creates a flavor that is mellowed and sweet, with hints
of nuts and dried orange peel. Also, these flavors are very complimentary to
sweet vermouth and Campari.”

Rieger's

Kansas City
American Whiskey

Woodsy forest floor and burnt sugar
create an aromatic nose. In the mouth

the complex flavors range from
sandalwood and rose petals to ripe
peaches and light caramel. A smooth
roundness turns piquant and leathery

for an equally complex texture.

2016

February 21, 2020
Circulation: 35,000

J. RIEGER & CO. REVEALS 2020 SPORTING KANSAS CITY WHISKEY LABEL

-Limited-Edition Collectible Bottle Design Available Exclusively in Kansas City-

(Kansas City, MO) – Kansas City distillery J.
Rieger & Co. and Sporting Kansas City have
unveiled a very special collectible bottle of
Rieger’s Kansas City Whiskey. Exclusively
available in Kansas City as of Thursday, February
20, the first limited-edition label of Rieger’s
Sporting Kansas City Whiskey celebrates their
new partnership and “love of the city.” The
partners re-imagined the classic Rieger’s KC
Whiskey bottle with design elements and motifs
that fuse the past, present and future of both
brands in an entirely original way.

“From the beginning of our partnership with
Sporting KC we’ve drawn inspiration from the
amazing fan base and commitment we share to
our city,” says Andy Rieger, President & Co-
Founder of J. Rieger & Co. “Rieger’s KC Whiskey
has always symbolized our amazing connection
to our hometown, and it’s a very proud moment
for our team to integrate the Sporting KC colors
and legacy into our most iconic label. This
collectible edition of our whiskey is unmistakably
J. Rieger & Co. and Sporting KC, and a tribute to
everything we love about Kansas City.”

In December 2019, J. Rieger & Co. and
Sporting Kansas City announced an exciting new partnership that includes specialty bottlings, cocktails and
events at the J. Rieger & Co. distillery, Children’s Mercy Park and other local venues. Scheduled to debut
with the 2020 Sporting season, Rieger’s products will be served at Children’s Mercy Park during matches
and at private events in the suite levels, Wise Power Shield Club and additional concession locations at the
stadium.

The suggested retail price of the 2020 Rieger’s Sporting Kansas City Whiskey collectible bottle is $35/750-
ml. It will be available throughout Kansas City at local retailers and at the J. Rieger & Co. distillery. This is
a limited rlease and only 4,000 bottles will be available.



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1uo,r1tl11>I !o:11 ,1 th/\ �1'- l'hr. p.i.l.:.ti: �11$ lxi.=bl
lemon a:id. v,i;a,Jnlit ·�.,�J. u11t!"'i1i<111td 'II}• rr,fld.



August 31, 2019
Circulation: 507,400

AMERICAN GINS YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER TRIED, BUT SHOULD

Anna Archibald

A consideration of America’s heartland conjures images of corn fields, rustic barns and plenty of other farm-
centric scenery. But the area responsible for farming much of the nation’s food is also producing some
ridiculously good-tasting gin. From the plains of Kansas and Illinois to the mountains of Colorado, American
gins are being produced with fantastic examples of the long-time bar staple. Here’s why you should consider
adding one (or more!) of these gins made in America’s heartland—from modern styles to classic London
drys—to your home bar.

RIEGER MIDWESTERN DRY GIN
KANSAS CITY, MO

Rieger’s gin was made with the help of distilling legend Tom Nichol, renowned former master distiller at
Tanqueray. So it’s no surprise that this Kansas City gin emulates the dry style popularized by London
distilleries. J. Rieger & Co. sourced botanicals from around the world to achieve a spicy flavor and aroma,
including licorice root and orange peel. It works well in classic and contemporary recipes, so prepare to
work through a bottle of this American gin quickly.

June 1, 2019
Circulation: 503,350

Rieger’s Midwestern Dry Gin

Jack Robertiello

COST - $$
DISTILLER SCORE - 90
AVG. RATING - 3.88 (3 out of 5 stars )

Rieger's Midwestern Dry Gin was made in consultation with Tom Nichols, former master distiller for
Tanqueray. This Midwestern take on the London Dry-style incorporates juniper, coriander, angelica root,
licorice root, and orange peel along with a wheat-based neutral spirit. Released in fall 2015.

TASTING NOTES
"This American-made London Dry Gin opens with a punchy juniper and earthy coriander burst; add a tangy
licorice-like quality and moderate citrus that leads to a clean finish and a lingering zing and we've got a
New World gin with old world sophistication."
REVIEWED BY JACK ROBERTIELLO

January 11, 2019
Circulation: 30,000

Drink Me’s Top 14 Picks for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is almost upon us and that means bringing your best game to the table — including wine,
spirits or beer. This is not the time to cut corners, experiment or dabble with dodgy labels or make
branding mistakes. Count on the wines, spirits, and beers that won’t diminish your perfect evening and
will, instead, enhance the experience.

We’ve outlined some likely candidates to ensure your special someone knows how
much you care.

Rieger & Co Midwestern Dry Gin, $30.00

Midwestern Dry Gin (SRP: $30/750-ml bottle) was created in collaboration with the
world’s top gin distiller, Tom Nichol, former-master distiller for Tanqueray. By selecting
the finest botanicals – juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, orange peel, and
licorice root – the result is a bold, full-flavored London Dry-style gin. Jacob Rieger &
Company was originally founded in 1887 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms Livestock
Exchange district. The distillery produced over 100 alcoholic products on a national
basis, including the iconic Monogram Whiskey, but it was forced to close in 1919 with
the advent of Prohibition. In 2014, 95 years after Prohibition, the brand was relaunched
by hospitality entrepreneur, Ryan Maybee, (Manifesto), and Andy Rieger, the great-
great-great-grandson of Jacob Rieger. The current distillery is located in the historic
Electric Park district of Kansas City and will unveil a significant expansion in the East
Bottoms of Kansas City in Spring of this year. Products include Kansas City Whiskey,
Midwestern Dry Gin, Caffè Amaro, and Premium Wheat Vodka. 46.1% ALC/VOL.

Rieger's

Midwestern Dry
Gin

Mild-mannered, with a subtle
undercurrent of earthy, herbal funk, this
svelte, juniper-focused gin hits mostly
tenor and bass notes such as pine resin,

sweet orange, and star anise. It’s a
perfect match for the gin classicist!

2016



November 19, 2019
Circulation: 158,100,000

Overeating on Thanksgiving? Bitters can make it better.

M. Carrie Allan

At a Thanksgiving a while back, after our family was reduced to immobility
by the meal we had just consumed, someone at the table made a
sensible suggestion: We should all just take a nap.

We didn’t bother to stand up and find a couch or spare bed, but simply
slid from our chairs one by one, dropping to the carpet beneath the dining
room table, poleaxed. Occasionally someone would giggle or groan or
make a feeble attempt to crawl toward the medicine cabinet and its
merciful canister of Tums, only to lie back down. The dog went from one

of us to the next, inspecting our faces for traces of leftovers. We could
see in her eyes a dawning understanding that we had been reduced to
human turduckens, stuffed with sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce and
broccoli with hollandaise, there for whatever enterprising canine might
summon the will to take the first bite.

Estimates of what Americans eat at the Thanksgiving meal range from
the slightly alarming (2,000 calories, a typical day for many adults) to the

truly Brobdingnagian (up to 4,500 calories, which I presume is for those who accompany each dish with a shot of gravy). There is some
delicious irony in a national holiday that bastes our heritage of colonialism in butter and leaves celebrants so incapacitated with food that,
should foreign hordes wish to re-vanquish our borders, Thanksgiving would be a good time to try.

Had we been thinking more clearly that year, we would have accompanied the Grand Snarf with a strategic application of bitters. Bitters
are the stomach’s wingman — its appetizer before a big meal, its comfort and helpmeet in the aftermath. And while the taste of bitterness
often stimulates a prehistoric “Nope!” deep in the human brain (it’s a flavor long associated with toxicity), when balanced with other flavors,
bitter can be beautiful.

Drink bitters come in two basic forms: potable and non-potable. Those terms are misleading, because “non-potable” bitters are poted,
just typically in very small doses. Such bitters (like Angostura and Peychaud’s) are intensely flavored, with bitter plants like cinchona and
gentian and other botanicals that contribute to the taste. This type is usually used in drops and dashes. Think of them as a cocktail
seasoning. Potable bitters, on the other hand — liqueurs such as Campari, Suze, Jägermeister — are consumed in bigger portions. While
they, too, are bitter, some intensely so, most include sweeteners that make them easier to swallow.

Even though most non-potable bitters are highly alcoholic, you can walk into a grocery store and buy a bottle of Angostura bitters (which

at 44.7 percent alcohol by volume is boozier than most vodkas) without ever having to show any ID. Try to drink the stuff neat, and you’ll
understand why; it’s the rare teenager indeed who’d decide getting blitzed off this stuff would be a good idea.

Although both types of bitters are now used mostly for the flavors they impart, they all came out of herbal medicine traditions and are
sometimes still used for their digestive effect. Andrew Chevallier, an author and medical herbalist, told me via email that we experience
bitterness through molecules that stimulate taste receptors in our tongues, mouths and the stomach itself. “A wide variety of compounds
do this and thereby stimulate digestive activity, especially digestive secretions” like saliva, stomach acid and duodenal juices, “all of which
promote the ability to process and absorb nutrients,” he said. “One of the main functions of aperitifs and bitters is precisely to promote
nutrient uptake, and to aid the digestive system in efficiently processing a meal.”

The bitter liqueur tradition in Europe is wide-ranging. The Italians make red bitters such as Campari and Aperol and a host of darker
digestive bitters called amari. The French have bright yellow Suze and clear Salers, both gentian-based; the Germans have Jägermeister
and Underberg.

Because brands tend to treat the formulas with extreme secrecy, it’s hard to decipher what’s shaped the traditions that govern when to
drink these. Why are some bitter liqueurs treated as aperitifs and some as digestifs? Italians seem to concur that their red bitters are
aperitivi and darker ones are digestivi, but I’ve yet to fully understand why. I often seem to arrive at a tautology: Digestive liqueurs are so

categorized because you drink them after a meal.

Chevallier, though, helped me think it through. Bitter herbs have different effects on the body, he explained — promoting nutrient uptake,
slowing the heart rate, reducing physiological components of stress, easing bloating and gas and the sense of fullness after a big meal.
In the days when these liquids were consumed primarily as medicines rather than recreationally, people probably learned to consume
them for their particular digestive impacts.

Francesco Amodeo, president of Don Ciccio & Figli, a D.C.-based distiller of multiple cordials, aperitivi and amari based on the traditions
of the Amalfi Coast, said the company uses different botanicals for its aperitivi than for its variety of digestivi. Some of these traditions
came from superstition, he said, but “if you’re going to have an earthy amaro, you need earthy and stronger ingredients. The botanicals
will activate your stomach and tell your digestive system to contract. If you use something lighter — gentian, bitter orange, juniper —
those will tell your stomach to expand and make you hungry.” The base of the word aperitivo, aper, he points out, means “open.”

Sticking with the tradition of red bitters before the meal, I created a festive hibiscus-pomegranate punch for Thanksgiving. It’s rosy and
herbal, lightly bittersweet, and topped off with bubbly. Prepped with all its garnishes, it’s a visual treat, but should also act as an aperitivo
to get you and your guests in the mood for munching.

For postprandial imbibing, you can go with darker digestive liqueurs, or, for something light and stomach-settling, try the classic bitters
and soda. It couldn’t be easier: ice, club soda (you can use tonic or a flavored carbonated water if you prefer), a few dashes of bitters and
a squeeze of citrus. What I’m planning, though, is to combine two classic after-dinner options: coffee and amaro. A giant meal (especially
one laced with tryptophan!), seems to point to a need not only for a tummy-settling, but also for a wake-up call. In Italy, the caffè corretto
(an espresso “corrected” with a little alcohol) varies by region. The alcohol is usually sambuca or grappa, but I’ve found that many amari
go nicely with coffee, either added directly to coffee or served alongside an espresso.

At Thanksgiving, we need bartenders more than we need mixologists

There are even options that combine the two in the bottle. Lucano Caffè Amaro combines coffee with notes of cloves and other herbs,
and Baltimore Spirits Co. makes Baltamaro, the coffee version of which has nice citrus and cocoa notes. A real standout is J. Rieger &
Co.’s Caffè Amaro, which started off as a housemade concoction when Ryan Maybee was behind the bar at Manifesto in Kansas City.
An alcoholic infusion of coffee paired with juniper, cardamom and orange peel was a customer favorite; when Maybee went on to co-
found the distillery, the team started producing it at scale.

Don Ciccio & Figli makes a barley/coffee liqueur called Concerto. It’s not an amaro, but it is far more complex than a standard coffee
liqueur and is based on a recipe made by monks on the Amalfi Coast since the 1600s. Amodeo remembered his father drinking that
version after meals. “Since there’s such a star anise flavor profile, his mustache, every time he would kiss me, I would just feel like I had
that smell all over my face,” he recalled.

If coffee, bittersweet liqueurs and the thought of paternal kisses scented with spice don’t give you that post-Thanksgiving glow, maybe
you didn’t get enough to eat. Time to go back for fourths?

December 6, 2018
Circulation: 7,420,000

A Spirited Gift Guide: Bartenders' Ultimate Holiday Wish List Bottles

Dan Q. Dao
We asked some of our favorite bartenders around the world to share the rare, funky, and sentimental bottles
of booze they hope to find under the tree this year.
As unofficial booze ambassadors and educators to the drinking public, cocktail bartenders are privy to some
of the best liquor on the market. Beyond pouring the stuff and making drinks with it, they’re often trying new
releases before they hit liquor store shelves, and traveling to distilleries and tasting rooms to see how
products are made.
It makes sense then that those who are surrounded by booze on a daily basis have a keen eye for the stuff
that’s truly special. And with the holidays just around the corner, we’re tapping into that expertise for some
spirited gifting inspiration. Our question was simple: What one bottle of booze would you ask Santa for this
year?
With responses from some of our favorite star-tenders, we’ve generated a list of rare, odd, pie-in-the-sky
items sure to surprise and delight any spirits nerd in your life. From special-cask Japanese whisky and
extra-old Scotch to Thai gin and French honey wine, here are some excellent, gift-able bottles to seek out—
that is, if you can.

Sother Teague, beverage director, Blue Quarter and Amor y Amargo (New York)
New York bartender Sother Teague offers one unobtainable wish, and one that’s a bit easier to find. “Old
Overholt has long been my favorite rye expression. It’s the longest continually produced rye whiskey in the
world—tastes of peanuts and flinty pencil shavings, and great in an old-fashioned,” says Teague. “Two
years ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a case of Old Overholt produced in 1909. This was the best
bottling of anything I’ve ever tasted in my life and I’m sure Santa would agree.”

Beyond that you-had-to-be-there whiskey, Teague recommends the Caffé Amaro Coffee Bitter
Liqueur from Kansas City’s J. Rieger and Co. “It’s the best coffee liqueur in the market in my opinion,” he
says. “It’s delightfully bitter and deliciously coffee-esque unlike many cloyingly sweet coffee liqueurs on the
shelf today.”

December 2, 2019
Circulation: 7,700,000

19 Excellent Bottles of Booze to Gift in 2019, According to Bartenders

Dan Q. Dao

Cuvee cask-aged single malts, Japanese plum whiskey, and a non-alcoholic botanical aperitif—bartenders
reveal the bottles they hope to receive this year.

Holiday shopping can be a stressful time, so why not give a gift that takes the edge off just a little? Consider
the diverse world of spirits. With endless styles and flavors, giving
booze allows you to choose something uniquely personalized,
undoubtedly useful, and most importantly, fun.

And who better to help you narrow down some bottles than the
bartenders who serve them and know them best? We tapped
several of our favorite drink-slingers from across the country (and
beyond) to ask them what bottle of spirit or liqueur they’d hope to
receive this year. The result is this eclectic guide of bottles that
run the gamut of style, price, and origin.

J. Rieger Caffè Amaro

The joint effort of Kansas City distillery J. Rieger & Co. and coffee
roaster Thou Mayest, this coffee liqueur fuses a single-origin
coffee with seven botanicals and herbs, plus evaporated cane
syrup. With flavors ranging from slightly sweet to bitter and herbal,
it’s become a favorite of New York City bartender Sother Teague
of Amor y Amargo. “Holiday shopping for the spirit lover in your
life can be tough, but a unique bottle with a (mostly) universally
enjoyed flavor is a sure way to warm the hearth,” Teague says. “Caffè Amaro from J. Rieger is a dry coffee
liqueur that’s great to sip on and easily lends a warm holiday vibe to cocktails.”

December 12, 2018
Circulation: 454,200

J. Rieger & Co.’s Caffe Amaro

Anna Archibald

COST - $$
DISTILLER SCORE - 90
AVG. RATING - 3.85 (3 out of 5 stars)

A collaboration with Kansas City's J. Rieger & Co. and Thou Mayest Coffee Roaster, this
coffee-flavored, Italian-style amaro blends flavors from a Sumatran single origin coffee
beans with botanicals and herbs like juniper berries, anise, cardamom, orange peel,
spearmint, and vanilla. It then spends a short time in a whiskey barrel to develop its unique
flavor before being sweetened with cane syrup. While a dram of this is not akin to sipping
a cup of your morning joe, this amaro does contain about 467mg of caffeine per bottle.

TASTING NOTES
"Though it looks like a cup of joe in the glass, coffee aromas take a backseat to black
licorice and cardamom on the nose. It's creamy on the palate, and bitter notes of extracted
coffee, orange oil and tannins are prominent. There is a lightness to the otherwise rich
amaro, however, thanks to hints of menthol throughout. This would do well poured over
ice, but is likely to shine in cocktails that complement its many flavor notes."
REVIEWED BY ANNA ARCHIBALD