July 22, 2025—New Orleans. Innovative New Orleans distillery Atelier Vie releases today a Distiller’s Reserve edition of Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey, made with brown rice. This unique new expression of Riz was distilled in early 2020 and was patiently aged for five years and two months in small casks previously used for rye and bourbon.
Making The Brown Rice Edition
“In early 2020, we began work on an experimental batch of Riz using brown rice,” explained Jedd Haas, distiller at Atelier Vie. “Brown rice is somewhat more difficult to work with than the white rice we normally use for Riz. It doesn’t cook the same as the white rice and doesn’t break down as much. The brown rice was also four times the cost of the white rice. Like all of our rice whiskey, this Distiller’s Reserve release was mashed, fermented, distilled, and barrel aged at our New Orleans distillery,” Haas continued.
The experimental brown rice whiskey was entered into a several small barrels. One of these barrels was sold to a whiskey club when it reached three years and seven months. The remaining two barrels were aged until they were five years and two months old.
One barrel was a 25 gallon cask formerly used for rye whiskey; the other was a 15 gallon cask formerly used for bourbon and our own Louisiana Single Malt. These barrels were then blended together and were bottled at cask strength. A total of 116 bottles were produced.
Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey, Brown Rice Edition, Distiller’s Reserve, is bottled in 750ml at cask strength, which is 60.69% alcohol by volume (121.38 proof).
Available Now
Riz, Brown Rice Edition, is available immediately at the Atelier Vie tasting room for purchase during visits. Riz and our other distilled spirits can also be purchased for pickup via our online store. Riz, Distiller’s Reserve, is priced at $125 at the tasting room. This price includes all of our notoriously high sales taxes.
Riz, Brown Rice Edition, is also in stock at our Louisiana distributor, International Wines and Spirits and is available to all IWS customers throughout Louisiana.
Atelier Vie’s Spirits
Atelier Vie’s distilled spirits include Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey, in standard (3 years, 90 proof) and Bonded (100 proof, 4 years) expressions; Louisiana Single Malt; Louisiana Single Malt Cask Strength; Toulouse Red, Toulouse Green, and Toulouse Blue absinthes; Euphrosine Gin #9, Euphrosine Gin #9 Barrel-Finished Reserve; Euphrosine Gin #9 Snowflake Edition; Euphrosine Gin #9 Bottled in Bond; Calio Rum; Barrel Aged Calio Rum; Calio Rum Bottled in Bond Gin Barrel Edition; Calio Rum Cask Strength; Barleycorn Magic; Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition; Gumbo Noir; Chalana; and Myrtle Pepper.
The Company
Inspired by our renowned culinary culture, Atelier Vie creates flavorful new spirits in one of the greatest drinking cities of the world. Atelier Vie is the oldest continuously operating distillery in New Orleans and is also the oldest whiskey distillery in Louisiana. Our motto: “Liquor is art you can drink.” Atelier Vie was founded in 2011 by Jedd Haas.
Visiting Hours at the Distillery
The distillery is open for tastings and discussion of the distillation process by appointment only. Appointments are generally available at 10am, noon, and 2pm on weekends. Limited availability during the week, depending on production schedule. Due to insurance requirements, there is a $30 tasting fee for the full tasting experience, which includes well over one dozen spirits. Spirits are available for purchase during visits or through our online store for pickup at the distillery. Visitors should see the company web site for directions, store link, and additional details.
Contact:
Jedd Haas
504-534-8590 (distillery line, leave message or text)
https://ateliervie.com
@ateliervie
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