H. Obernauer & Co., a Pittsburgh whiskey company originally founded in 1885, is returning more than a century after it closed. The revived brand will establish its home at 2613 Smallman Street in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, where a tasting room is planned to open in the coming months.
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READ THE STORYThe announcement marks the return of a largely forgotten Pittsburgh whiskey name.
The company was originally built by German immigrant Herman Obernauer. He founded the business on a simple principle: “My word is as good as my bond.”
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Obernauer worked as a whiskey rectifier and blender. He earned a reputation for quality and integrity, personally standing behind his products by putting his name on the label.
The company closed its doors in 1915. Following the closure, the H. Obernauer & Co. name gradually faded from memory.
The brand’s revival began when Herman’s great-great-grandson, Matthew Obernauer, uncovered the family’s forgotten whiskey legacy. He set out to restore a piece of Pittsburgh history.
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“As a whiskey-maker, Herman was successful thanks to his dedication to quality, craftsmanship, and integrity,” said Matthew Obernauer, owner and chief revival officer of H. Obernauer & Co. “We’re proud to revive his legacy and begin a new chapter for a name that still upholds those values.”
The brand’s history is rooted in a significant era for American whiskey. In the late 19th century, Pennsylvania was among the nation’s leading whiskey-producing regions. The state was closely associated with Monongahela rye, a style named for the river valley in western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh sat at the heart of this whiskey trade before Prohibition reshaped the industry.
The Strip District, where the revived company will be based, is a historic Pittsburgh neighborhood known for its markets, food producers, and growing hospitality scene.
Additional details regarding the tasting room experience, the whiskey portfolio, and opening plans will be announced in the coming months.
