J. Rieger Premium Wheat Vodka Review | A Pre-Prohibition Distillery Reborn | The Liquor Connoisseur
- connoisseurofliquo
- May 4
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
J. Rieger & Co. is one of the great American distillery revival stories — a Kansas City pre-Prohibition institution that closed in 1919 and reopened in 2014. Crystal and Roger bring their Premium Wheat Vodka to the library and evaluate whether the revival is living up to the legacy.
Bottle Specs
Spirit: J. Rieger & Co. Premium Wheat Vodka
Distillery: J. Rieger & Co., Kansas City, Missouri (est. 1887, revived 2014)
Category: American Craft Wheat Vodka
Base grain: Winter wheat
ABV: 40%
Price: ~$25–30
Historical note: One of America's oldest pre-Prohibition distilleries, revived by great-great-grandnephew Ryan Maybee
The J. Rieger Story
J. Rieger & Co. was founded in 1887 and became one of the largest whiskey companies in the United States before Prohibition forced its closure in 1919. The revival began in 2014 when Ryan Maybee — a great-great-grandnephew of the original founder — reopened the distillery in Kansas City's East Bottoms neighborhood, the original home of the brand. The distillery doesn't just make spirits — it's a historical preservation project with a genuinely beautiful restored building to show for it.
What Makes a Wheat Vodka Different
Wheat vodka is generally regarded as producing a softer, cleaner spirit than corn or potato vodkas. The wheat base contributes a subtle sweetness and a smooth, almost silky texture that distinguishes it from the neutral flatness of mass-produced vodkas. J. Rieger's wheat vodka is distilled to a relatively low proof (compared to mass-market vodka) to preserve more of the grain character — which means there's actually something to taste here.
Tasting Notes — Nose, Palate, Finish
Nose: Clean and subtly sweet with a faint grain note — more expressive than most neutral vodkas. Palate: Smooth and soft with a light wheat sweetness and a clean texture. There's genuine character here without complexity for its own sake. Finish: Clean, short, and pleasant — exactly what a quality vodka should deliver.
🥃 Crystal & Roger's LC Recommendations
For the vodka drinker who wants craft: J. Rieger gives you a heritage story and a genuinely well-made spirit for under $30. It's the easy choice when you want wheat vodka with a point of view.
For Kansas City visitors: The J. Rieger distillery is one of the most beautiful restored distillery buildings in America. The tasting room visit is worth making.
In cocktails: Wheat vodka is the natural choice for a Moscow Mule or Vodka Martini when you want the spirit to contribute rather than just carry other ingredients.
LC Verdict
A quality wheat vodka with a great American comeback story. J. Rieger Premium Wheat Vodka delivers genuine craft at a price that makes it impossible not to recommend.
Drink To Remember, Not To Forget. 🥃
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