J. Rieger & Co. Unveils ‘Fielder’s Choice’ Whiskey Collection in Collaboration With Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
(Photo: J. Rieger & Co.)
On Friday, the Kansas City, Missouri distillery J. Rieger & Co. announced it is teaming up with the Kansas City-based Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to release a collection of four whiskeys: the Fielder’s Choice Collection.
Each expression in the collection is named for a different Negro Leagues team, sports a collectible label design and comes in a custom box set. A portion of all sales from the collection will benefit the museum, which is the world’s only national museum dedicated to preserving the history of Black baseball and its impact on the U.S.
“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is an icon of Kansas City and we are beyond honored to be partnering with our friends there on this collection of spirits,” J. Rieger & Co. co-founder Andy Rieger said in a news release. “We want to see the museum continue to flourish, preserving the incredible legacy of Negro Leagues baseball, for generations to come. Our entire team at J. Rieger & Co. is really excited about this collaboration, from the special whiskey expressions and collectible labels to the upcoming launch event at the distillery.”
Boxed sets containing all four whiskeys are available for pre-sale purchase. Additional quantities of the Kansas City Monarchs whiskey will be sold individually.
Breaking Down the J. Rieger & Co. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Fielder’s Choice Collection
Kansas City Monarchs
Named for Kansas City’s hometown team, the longest-running franchise in the history of the Negro leagues, this Kansas City Whiskey is finished in beer barrels from KC Bier Co. and bottled at 94 proof.
St. Louis Stars
Named for the St. Louis Stars, who won three league titles in four years from 1928 to 1931, this is what J. Rieger & Co. is hailing as its first “small-batch bourbon.” St. Louis Stars is bottled at 95 proof.
Chicago American Giants
This 100-proof light whiskey is named for what Rieger refers to as the “most dominant team in Black baseball in the early 1900s.” According to the distillery, this whiskey, which is distilled from 100% corn, has tasting notes of popcorn, caramel and peanut brittle — much like the popular baseball snack, cracker jack.
Homestead Grays
This small-batch straight rye whiskey is bottled at 100 proof and named for the Pittsburgh-based Homestead Grays, which won 10 league titles and the Negro World Series in 1943, 1944 and 1948.
Fielder’s Choice Collection Launch Party Info
J. Rieger & Co. will host a fundraising event and launch party for the collection. It will be open to the public and take place Feb. 21 at J. Rieger & Co.’s distillery at 2700 Guinotte Ave. in Kansas City.
Several traveling exhibits from the museum will be on display at the event, and a few “honored guest” will be in attendance.
Pre-purchased collector’s boxes will be available for pickup at the event. Any yunsold sets will be available for purchase on-site along with the additional Monarchs bottles.
“The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum would like to toast our friends at J. Rieger for partnering with us to celebrate the winning spirit of the Negro Leagues with this amazing commemorative collection of spirits and we look forward to the exciting launch,” NLBM President Bob Kendrick said.
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