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Our Monogram Whiskey carries on a tradition of blending exceptional whiskeys dating back to when Jacob Rieger started our distillery in 1887. This very special and limited-edition Kansas City Whiskey sees an extended aging period in extremely rare oloroso sherry botas from the Williams & Humbert Solera Especial. The additional time spent in the solera adds depth, complexity, and beauty that you are unlikely to find in any other American whiskey.
This year’s blend is comprised of straight bourbon, straight rye, and light corn whiskeys that have been aging in our solera since as far back as 2015. The 2023 Rieger’s Monogram Whiskey is the first release of our "Kansas City Whiskey - Solera Reserve," which celebrates the deep, complex terroir of the legendary sherry botas and its effect on American whiskey. The solera method uses fractional blending to age the whiskey. It’s a continual process of removing a portion of the whiskey from the barrel, then topping it off with another batch, over many years. This “never-ending barrel” approach creates a unique yet consistent mixture of ages. Having expanded our solera to ten casks between 50-100 years old adds layers of flavor and complexity to what is already a very special bottling.
This whiskey leads with rich notes of buttered popcorn, French toast, and maple syrup. Complex aromas of smoky cedar and woody tobacco. Hints of black pepper and caramelized orange, with subtle hints of tropical fruit.
The palate is sweet and elegant, showcasing flavors of butter pecan, vanilla, and cream soda. The mid-palate is loaded with fig, chocolate-covered cherry, and baking spice. There’s a thick, creamy smokiness that’s evenly distributed throughout. The sweet flavors of black walnut, vanilla, and allspice are reminiscent of Derby pie. The finish is lengthy and spicy, highlighted by the significant amount of rye in the blend.
On the nose is clover honey and red fruits. Nutty notes of toasted cashews & candied almond. Hints of dried mint & sage. Buttered toast and salted caramel, cigar tobacco, and fruity hints of black cherry and dried apricot.
Sweet and spicy notes, including cinnamon popcorn and burnt clove. Even with the complex and rich flavor profile, the mouthfeel is soft and elegant. The balance between smoke, earthiness, fruit & spice is reminiscent of BBQ. Long finish with deep earthy notes, espresso, and dark chocolate.
The opening aroma is reminiscent of spring flowers, which is surprising considering the age and intensity of this Whiskey. Bright, green and fresh there are fruity notes of tamarind, papaya and cola. On the first entry to the palate is charred honeycomb; a deep sweetness that is covered with ash and char, molasses, tar, toasted marshmallow, and deep, dried, dark fruits like prune and raisin. Tobacco leads to decadent butter pecan ice cream.
The texture is creamy and elegant. Salty, toasted pumpernickel bread leads to chocolate-covered almonds. There is a deep, dry, earthy-leather quality that seems to echo throughout higher-note flavors of mint, eucalyptus, black tea, and clover honey. The complexity is so rich and layered that you hardly notice that it’s 110 proof. Years of aging add so much depth and a lingering finish.
On the nose is caramelized orange peel, nutmeg, and toasted marshmallow. Hints of dried mint and sage. Buttered toast and salted caramel, cigar tobacco, and fruity hints of black cherry, and dried apricot.
Sweet and spicy notes, including cinnamon popcorn and burnt clove. Even with the complex and rich flavor profile, the mouthfeel is soft and elegant. The balance between smoke, earthiness, fruit, and spice is profound. Long finish with deep earthy notes, espresso, and dark chocolate.
Reminiscent of a good pipe, with an almost Cavendish taste, it is also earthy, with mushroom and cedar notes. It starts as butterscotch barrels, but turns into sassafras, with the fruit of caramel apples, ripe apricots, chestnuts, and savory caramelized root vegetables.
Some high note spices of nutmeg and clove, with perhaps a touch of cinnamon, but soft, with a hint of ginger candy, make it finish like pecan pie. This rich, deeply layered and complex whiskey is extremely well-balanced and has a very long finish.
Lovely, dark fruit and caramel notes, with an almost demerara and toffee tone lead, but the whiskey itself is dry as a bone. Creamy, full, soft, and rich. It is unctuous, dark and mysterious, and yet absolutely balanced and gorgeous. Dates, peaches, plums, figs, and chocolate-covered cherries are balanced with a touch of vanilla and high note spices of cinnamon and clove, and surrounded by the velvet of sweet caramel, maple syrup, coffee, toffee, cacao, honey, finishing very nutty, with the flavors of cashews and even pecans.
It is confectionary in the mid-palate, without being sweet, and has a long, almond marzipan finish. This is a true oloroso cask finished whiskey. It is all about the whiskey, perfectly balanced with the elements of the oloroso, and the nuances of the oak bota, with the depth of flavor that only these special old barrels can deliver.
