This whiskey from Kansas City’s J. Rieger & Co. has a complex heritage. It’s blended from sourced 11-year-old Rye whiskey and 9-year-old corn whiskey, then finished for 18 months in century-old Oloroso Sherry solera casks (botas) shipped to Rieger from the Williams & Humbert bodega in Spain.

The result is a whiskey with a dark, sweet aroma and notes of figs, dates, chocolate, black cherries, muted spices, and a slight nuttiness. The taste is thick, well-balanced, and complex with baked peaches, figs, a hint of toffee, cinnamon and clove spices, and touches of cocoa and honey. The finish is very long, smooth, and well-balanced with spicy notes that fade gently while almond, toffee, and fig notes add balance and complexity. Excellent! (April, 2017)