Andy Rieger, president and co-founder of Kansas City-based J. Rieger & Co., has been elected to the board of directors of the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA). His appointment, announced on July 14, 2026, makes him the only board member representing Kansas and Missouri.
The ACSA is the only registered nonprofit trade association representing US craft distilleries.
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Rieger joins the board with a background in legislative policy and advocacy for craft distillers. He is one of the youngest presidents of a nationally recognized American craft distillery.
“It’s an honor to serve on the ACSA Board at a pivotal time for independent distillers,” said Rieger. “Across the country, there are quality businesses working to build durable American brands, create jobs, buy from agricultural partners and compete the right way.”
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He continued: “Too often, the current system makes that harder than it should be, especially for independent producers without the scale or leverage of larger companies. My focus will be on advancing practical, common-sense policies that give great operators a fair chance to succeed.”
The appointment comes as the craft spirits industry faces declining investment and mounting economic pressures. On 29 June 2026, the ACSA supported the introduction of the Supporting Producers Through Incentives from Rural Ingredients and Tax Relief (SPIRIT) Act. The bipartisan legislation is led by Congressional Craft Spirits Caucus co-chair Representative Jeff Hurd (R-CO) and co-sponsored by Representative Jill Tokuda (D-HI). The bill would establish a Federal Excise Tax (FET) credit for qualifying small distillers that use domestically grown agricultural ingredients.
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READ THE STORYRieger is the sixth-generation descendant of Jacob Rieger, who founded the original Kansas City distillery in 1887. Before Prohibition, the company was the largest mail order whiskey house in the country.
After a career in private equity and investment banking, Rieger returned to Kansas City in 2014 to revive the brand alongside bartender Ryan Maybee. Under his leadership, the company restored a landmark 1901 building in Kansas City’s historic Electric Park district into a destination distillery.
Today, J. Rieger & Co. produces spirits including Rieger Kansas City Whiskey, Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Straight Rye Whiskey. Its accolades include Best American Whiskey at the ASCOT Awards.
