West Bottoms Kansas City Whiskey Review (2025)

 

Most of us know the story of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They were explorers commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who wanted them to map out the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase territory by traversing the Missouri River and reporting on the best water route across the continent (and to claim it for the United States). They eventually hit the Pacific Ocean.

 

On June 6, 1804, the duo arrived at Kaw Point in what is now Kansas City, Missouri. About sixty years later, the Transcontinental Railroad arrived, making Kansas City a huge transportation, agricultural, and manufacturing hub. This area was called the West Bottoms, and that brings us to West Bottoms Whiskey Co., which was founded in 2021 by Alex Lindsey.

 

If I gave you three guesses to tell me where in West Bottoms Alex built his distillery, I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that no one would pick inside an abandoned train tunnel that was built in 1893!

 

“We set out to create beautiful sipping whiskeys that tell a story. Starting with our custom Kansas City Whiskey blend, we proved our skill as blenders, offering a unique approach to whiskey. While bourbon and rye are familiar, blends elevate the experience, presenting a bouquet of flavors that unfold like a great tale—each sip with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s this balance and sippability that define us.” – West Bottoms Whiskey Co.

 

Today, I’ll explore the aforementioned custom Kansas City Whiskey blend. It is from a pre-Prohibition recipe that involves blending of Bourbon, Rye, and up to 2.5% Oloroso Sherry. Kansas City Whiskey is a real thing; there are a handful of distilleries that make it. In fact, Alex has been lobbying to have it made a legally defined spirit.

 

But why would anyone blend Bourbon, Rye, and fortified wine? You have to go back in time. Prohibition hadn’t happened yet, and one of the reasons it did was because people were over-indulging. Distillers had trouble keeping up with demand, and aged stocks were running dry. The government approved the 2.5% leeway because you could take a younger whiskey and soften it, plus the Sherry enhanced the color, which made it more appealing.

 

West Bottoms Whiskey Co. enjoys distribution in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. Alex is working to expand that to other states.

 

I must thank West Bottoms Whiskey Co. for providing me with a sample so I could engage in this #DrinkCurious opportunity and put together my no-strings-attached, honest review. And, Alex has a favorite toast he enjoys sharing, so we’ll end the introduction with that: To trying and crying. To winning and grinning. Life can be tricky, but it’s better with whiskey. Cheers.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Blended Whiskey
• Distiller(s): Undisclosed
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: A blend of Bourbon, Rye, and up to 2.5% Oloroso Sherry
• Cooperage: Undisclosed
• Alcohol Content: 47% ABV (94°)
• Price per 750mL: $43.95
• Batch: 78

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. The honey-colored liquid created a thin rim with randomly spaced, fast tears.

 

Nose: I allowed this whiskey to rest for about 15 minutes before bringing the glass to my face and beginning to sniff. I found dry Sherry notes of almonds and walnuts. The walnut quality became stronger. As I continued exploring, there was black tea and cherry jam. Drawing the air through my lips allowed me to experience fresh cedar.

 

Palate: The Kansas City Whiskey’s texture was similar to whipped cream cheese. Admittedly, it took me a few tries to nail that down. I tasted cherry jam, almonds, and rye spice at the front of my palate. My mid-palate encountered old leather, torched vanilla, and tobacco leaf. Dark chocolate, clove, and arid oak formed the back.  

 

Finish: The finish featured cherry jam, clove, rye, and oak spices. There was even some black tea, albeit mild. My stopwatch suggested a medium finish with a 1:09 duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: I had to look up when I last had a Kansas City Whiskey; it was six years ago, and it was from J. Rieger. I liked it then, and I found West Bottoms Whiskey Co. very good as well. Each sip seemed to offer something sweeter than the previous. The dry Sherry, while only 2.5% (or less) of the blend, still seemed to dominate on the nose and palate. I am always fascinated by how something so minuscule can have such a bold impact.

 

It is priced at only $44.00, and I suspect that price is even lower elsewhere. That makes West Bottoms Kansas City Whiskey a good investment, and I believe it is well worth buying a Bottle. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.