The Limited Edition 2022 National Championship Bourbon was produced by J. Rieger & Co. in partnership with the University of Kansas.
This Bourbon was distilled at J. Rieger & Co. from a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley. This Straight Bourbon is a marriage of hand-picked barrels from some of our earliest distillations, dating back to 2016, that were selected specifically to commemorate KU’s 2022 National Championship win.
In March of 2022, we launched our partnership with the University of Kansas with our “Rock Chalk Rye” Straight Rye Whiskey. This extremely limited bottling of nearly 6-year-old Rye Whiskey proved to be a bit of good luck, as the Kansas Jayhawks Men’s Basketball team went on to win the Big 12 Tournament and eventually become the National Champions.
Since winning the 2022 National Championship, we are now introducing this Limited Edition bottle of Straight Bourbon Whiskey to commemorate the occasion. This Straight Bourbon is a marriage of hand-picked barrels from some of our earliest distillations, dating back to 2016. Bottled at 86 proof it is perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks.
Our Straight Bourbon is fermented from a mash bill of 56% corn, 30% rye, and 14% malted barley to create a classic Bourbon with noticeable characteristics of both sweet and spicy notes from the combination of corn and rye. Each batch was distilled on our 750-gallon copper pot still before being put into 53-gallon charred, new white American Oak barrels to begin their long aging process.
Aromas of peanut shells, green apple, and tart red fruits upfront. Lightly toasted cedar and mild tobacco add nuance and complexity. Flavors on the pallet are sweeter than the aromas, led by roasted peanuts, caramel, and cashew. A rich, oily, and buttery texture with flavors of cornbread, buttered popcorn, cigar smoke, and caramel apple follow. The finish highlights some of the more complex spices including caraway, cinnamon, and hints of vanilla and honey-cinnamon.
