J. Rieger & Co.
J. Rieger & Co. is a Kansas City craft distillery revived from an 1887 brand, producing sherry-finished whiskeys, gin, vodka, and amaro through wholesale distribution across 25+ U.S. states, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and an on-site hospitality venue with four bars and private event spaces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1887
- HeadquartersKansas City, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What J. Rieger & Co. does
J. Rieger & Co. is a Kansas City-based craft spirits distillery operating under the historic 1887 brand founded by Austro-Hungarian immigrant Jacob Rieger. The brand was dormant from Prohibition until 2014, when great-great-great grandson Andy Rieger and bartender Ryan Maybee relaunched it as the first new distillery in Kansas City since Prohibition. The company produces whiskey, gin, vodka, and a coffee liqueur from a 55,000 sq ft production and hospitality facility in the Electric Park District, distilling roughly 1,200 barrels per year with 9,000+ barrels aging on site. Its technical foundation is a proprietary sweet mash fermentation process, two-step column and pot still distillation, and Oloroso sherry cask finishing sourced from Williams & Humbert in Jerez, Spain — a combination the company credits with creating the Kansas City Whiskey classification. Award recognitions include 91 points from Wine Enthusiast and 90 points from tastings.com for the Premium Wheat Vodka, and 92 points from the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge for Caffè Amaro.
The commercial model is a four-channel operation. Wholesale distribution reaches 25 U.S. states plus D.C. through regional partners including Breakthru Beverage, Winebow, Johnson Brothers, Heidelberg Distributing, Standard Beverage, and Cask n' Cork. Direct-to-consumer revenue is generated through a Wix/Square e-commerce storefront (with shipping restrictions in nine states) and an on-site gift shop. On-premise hospitality includes four bars — Monogram Lounge, Tasting Room, Hey! Hey! Club, and Electric Park Garden Bar — alongside distillery tours and tastings. Private event hosting across nine spaces accommodating 16 to 1,000 guests provides a fourth revenue layer, with non-profit organizations eligible for discounted spirits and experiences. The customer base spans bars and restaurants (primary on-trade vertical), end-consumer retail buyers, and private event hosts, augmented by a portfolio of co-branded editions with the University of Missouri, University of Kansas, Sporting Kansas City, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
The company is privately held by the Rieger family and operating partners, with no documented institutional venture or private equity investment. Master Distiller Nathan Perry, trained by Dave Pickerell and Tom Nichol, leads a six-person production team; Tom Nichol and Steve Olson serve as operating partners. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, but production has reportedly grown 100% year-over-year since 2015, and limited-edition releases across the partnership portfolio have repeatedly sold out.
J. Rieger & Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- J. Rieger & Co.
- Legal name
- Jacob Rieger & Company, LLC
- Website
- https://jriegerco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1887
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- J. Rieger & Co. is a Kansas City craft distillery revived from an 1887 brand, producing sherry-finished whiskeys, gin, vodka, and amaro through wholesale distribution across 25+ U.S. states, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, and an on-site hospitality venue with four bars and private event spaces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
J. Rieger & Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Spirits Distillery
- NAICS
- Distilleries (312140), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)
- SIC
- Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Distilleries (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAG), Spirits/Cocktail Bars Operated by Producers (THAFALAJ), Spirits Retail & Whiskey Shops (Off-Premise) (CRANAAAD), Beer, Wine & Spirits Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAIAA), Spirits Distillery Tours & Tastings (Whiskey, Rum, Gin, Vodka) (THAJAGAF)
Keywords
Where J. Rieger & Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kansas City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
J. Rieger & Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Spirits Sales (Wholesale & Retail): Revenue from selling bottled spirits (whiskey, gin, vodka, amaro) through wholesale distribution to retailers and bars/restaurants across 25+ states, as well as direct retail at the distillery gift shop.
- Direct-to-Consumer Spirits Sales: E-commerce sales and direct shipping of spirits to consumers' homes in most U.S. states. Spirits can also be purchased directly at the distillery.
- Hospitality & On-Premise: Revenue from distillery tours, guided tastings, food and cocktail sales at on-site bars (Monogram Lounge, Tasting Room, Hey! Hey! Club, Electric Park Garden Bar), and private events hosting.
- Private Events: Rental of distillery spaces for corporate events, rehearsal dinners, anniversaries, birthdays, and other private gatherings. Spaces range from 16 to 1,000 guests.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rieger Kansas City Whiskey (core) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rieger Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rieger Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Kansas City Whiskey Raise A Cup Edition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
J. Rieger & Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
J. Rieger & Co. is a historic Kansas City distillery that produces award-winning craft spirits including bourbon, rye, gin, vodka, and coffee liqueur using sweet mash fermentation, two-step column and pot still distillation, and sherry cask aging. Beyond spirits manufacturing, the company operates a 55,000 sq ft hospitality center with four on-site bars, distillery tours, tastings, and private event venues serving 16–1,000 guests.
Product overview
J. Rieger & Co. is a historic Kansas City distillery (founded 1887, relaunched 2014) offering an award-winning portfolio of artisanal spirits including Bourbon, Rye, Kansas City Whiskey (their signature Oloroso sherry-finished blend), Caffè Amaro coffee liqueur, Midwestern Dry Gin, and Premium Wheat Vodka. The portfolio is anchored by their core whiskey collection (Kansas City Whiskey, Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye) plus limited releases (Monogram Solera Reserve). They also operate partnership editions with universities (Mizzou, KU) and sports/cultural organizations (Sporting KC, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum). Beyond packaged spirits, they generate revenue through hospitality experiences including distillery tours, tastings, and private event venue rentals across nine distinct spaces at their 55,000 sq ft Electric Park District facility. Direct-to-consumer sales occur via their website store (Square) and at the distillery, while wholesale distribution spans 25+ states through distributor partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% year-over-year production growth since 2015
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use J. Rieger & Co.
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
J. Rieger & Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
J. Rieger & Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Missouri (MU)corePartnership to create Six Columns Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a Missouri-focused bourbon celebrating MU traditions. Distilled and aged at least four years in the Kansas City distillery. Also includes Electric Park canned cocktails. Each bottle supports MU traditions and celebrations.
- University of Kansas (KU)corePartnership with KU Athletics to create Wave The Wheat Vodka, celebrating Kansas pride and the 'waving the wheat' tradition. Also includes Rock Chalk Rye Whiskey editions and National Championship Bourbon. A portion of sales supports responsible drinking programs on campus.
- Sporting Kansas CitycoreAnnual limited-edition Rieger's Sporting Kansas City Whiskey, a signature blend of Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye & Light Corn Whiskeys with a hint of Sherry, celebrating the Kansas City region. Third annual edition released.
- Negro Leagues Baseball MuseumcoreFielder's Choice Collection — limited-edition spirits celebrating iconic Negro Leagues teams: Kansas City Monarchs, Chicago American Giants, St. Louis Stars, and Homestead Grays. Each bottle features retro labels inspired by historic teams.
- William & Humbert (Bodega)coreSpanish sherry bodega that sources Oloroso sherry botas used to finish Rieger Kansas City Whiskey and age Monogram Solera Reserva. The 50-100-year-old sherry casks are central to the brand's signature flavor profile and the Road to Jerez competition's grand prize destination.
- Thou MayestminorKansas City-based specialty coffee roaster collaborating on Caffè Amaro. Thou Mayest selects a single-origin coffee roast that contributes to the flavor profile of the bittersweet coffee liqueur.
- Boulevard Brewing Co.minorLocal Kansas City brewery whose Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale is featured in the signature Farmhouse Fizz cocktail recipe. The cocktail was inspired by Tom Nichol's love for Tank 7 during a visit to Kansas City.
- KC Canning Co.minorKansas City-based producer whose blood orange ginger shrub is featured in the Break Maiden cocktail recipe on the J. Rieger & Co. website.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
J. Rieger & Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WhistlePig Whiskey: Premium American rye whiskey producer with strong on-premise presence and signature limited releases. Closely comparable to Rieger in craft positioning, rye-forward portfolio, and direct-to-consumer emphasis (WhistlePig Farm and estate experience).
- Koval Distillery: Chicago-based craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and specialty spirits with on-site tasting room. Similar mid-sized craft positioning, urban heritage, multi-spirit portfolio, and DTC emphasis.
- FEW Spirits: Evanston, Illinois craft distillery producing whiskey, gin, and bourbon. Comparable scale, on-site hospitality, and craft-distillery DTC model in the Midwest craft spirits category.
- Stoll & Wolfe Distillery: Pennsylvania craft distillery founded by former Michter's master distiller, producing whiskey and other spirits. Comparable in craft positioning, single-site production, and premium tier pricing.
- Wilderness Trail Distillery: Kentucky craft bourbon and rye producer with on-site tasting experience and growing national distribution. Comparable craft-distillery scale, bourbon/rye portfolio, and DTC channel emphasis.
- Smooth Ambler Contradiction: West Virginia craft distillery producing bourbon, rye, gin, and whiskey with on-site tasting room. Closely comparable mid-sized craft positioning, multi-spirit portfolio, and regional-to-national distribution growth trajectory.
Broad incumbents
- Wild Turkey (Campari Group): Established Kentucky bourbon and rye producer at significantly larger scale. Comparable core product overlap (bourbon, rye, distillery tourism), but Wild Turkey operates through mainstream distribution and broader mass-premium positioning.
- Woodford Reserve (Brown-Forman): Premium bourbon brand with a benchmark distillery tourism experience on the Bourbon Trail. Comparable combination of premium whiskey portfolio, on-site hospitality/tours, and gift-shop retail — though at much larger parent-company scale.
- Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac): Major Kentucky bourbon producer with deep barrel-aging inventory and Bourbon Trail tourism. Relevant as a comparable in bourbon production scale, aged-stock economics, and distillery-visit model — though at vastly larger scale.
- Four Roses Distillery (Kirin): Kentucky bourbon producer with signature single-recipe yeast strains and on-site distillery tourism. Comparable bourbon production, aging program, and visitor experience model — though with broader distribution.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
J. Rieger & Co. social profiles
Digital presenceJ. Rieger & Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
J. Rieger & Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
J. Rieger & Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
J. Rieger & Co. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about J. Rieger & Co.
What does J. Rieger & Co. do?
J. Rieger & Co. is a historic Kansas City distillery that produces award-winning craft spirits including bourbon, rye, gin, vodka, and coffee liqueur using sweet mash fermentation, two-step column and pot still distillation, and sherry cask aging. Beyond spirits manufacturing, the company operates a 55,000 sq ft hospitality center with four on-site bars, distillery tours, tastings, and private event venues serving 16–1,000 guests.
Is J. Rieger & Co. a public or private company?
J. Rieger & Co. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was J. Rieger & Co. founded?
J. Rieger & Co. was founded in 1887. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is J. Rieger & Co. based?
J. Rieger & Co. is headquartered in Kansas City, United States, in the North America region.
How does J. Rieger & Co. make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Spirits Sales (Wholesale & Retail) is the primary driver. The others are direct-to-Consumer Spirits Sales, hospitality & On-Premise and private Events.
Who are J. Rieger & Co.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WhistlePig Whiskey, Koval Distillery, FEW Spirits, Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, Wilderness Trail Distillery and Smooth Ambler Contradiction. Broad incumbents are Wild Turkey (Campari Group), Woodford Reserve (Brown-Forman), Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac) and Four Roses Distillery (Kirin).
Does J. Rieger & Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for J. Rieger & Co..
What industry is J. Rieger & Co. in?
J. Rieger & Co.'s product category is Craft Spirits Distillery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAFAAAC, Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling, with a secondary code of THAFALAG, Distilleries (Tasting Rooms). Its NAICS code is 312140 and its SIC code is 2080.