Rye + bourbon = Penntucky, and guess who's making Bleier Family whiskey?

Americans have been making and drinking whiskey since the first colonists arrived on our shores in the 1600s.

The spirit made from fermented grains and aged in oak barrels - largely rye in Pennsylvania and corn in the South - was a widely traded commodity during the 18th century and was even used as a form of currency when money was short, such as in the years leading up to the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

So little surprise that a local distiller is celebrating the country's 250th birthday on July 4 with a collaboration that reflects the camaraderie and creativity within the craft whiskey community and the spirit's role in U.S. history.

Liberty Pole Spirits, which began operations in 2016 and makes its award-winning Pennsylvania rye whiskey and other spirits in Washington County, has partnered wih MB Roland Distillery in Pembroke, Ky., to create a blend of two iconic American whiskey styles: Kentucky bourbon and Monongahela rye.

Founded in 2009 by Paul and Merry Beth Tomaszewski, MB Roland is Kentucky's first modern, completely "grain-to-glass" craft distillery. It specializes in small‑batch, pre‑Prohibition-style bourbons and whiskey made primarily with corn in double pot stills.

Liberty Pole, which makes wheated and peated bourbons in addition to corn and rye whiskey, also employs a grain-to-glass approach with double pot distillation.

A personal connection brought the two distilleries together on the joint project. Liberty Pole co-owner Jim Hough and his wife, Ellen, have been friends with Paul Tomaszeski since 2014, when they met at a distilling class at the Kentucky distillery. So earlier this year, when the friends were discussing America's upcoming semiquincentennial, "we realized there was an opportunity to create something that celebrated two of America's most historic whiskey traditions," Jim Hough said.

Why not collaborate on blending those two iconic styles into a single bottle?

"They felt like perfect partners because both distilleries share similar values," Hough said, "even though we come from very different whiskey-making heritages."

To create a two-barrel blends, each distillery chose one of its own barrels of whiskey and one from other distillery and then blended the two spirits to create a unique, custom product. As a result, there are two distinct releases with noticeably different flavor profiles.

Liberty Pole's version, which has a "Penntucky" label, has a more robust profile with notes of baking spice, dark fruit and oak that's balanced by the "sweetness and richness of Kentucky bourbon," said Hough.

MB's "Kentsylvania" emphasizes its Kentucky bourbon character while also incorporating the spice and complexity of Liberty Pole's rye whiskey.

Tomaszewski calls the two whiskey products "unique, expressive and distinctly American."

Both will make their debut July 1 at the distilleries in limited quantities of around 400 bottles. Suggested retail price is $80 on site or $85 for direct-to-consumer shipments where permitted.

For more information, go to libertypolespirits.com and mbroland.com.

Bleier Family Whiskey

Iron City Distilling on July 1 will debut a 100% rye whiskey it recently produced for Bleier Family Whiskey, the American whiskey brand started in October by former Steeler and Mt. Lebanon resident Rocky Bleier. His partners include his son Adri Bleier, a Pittsburgh financial adviser, and cousin Bob Bleier, a former quarterback for the New England Patriots.

The brand released its first product, a 90-proof, four-grain bourbon called Purple Heart Bourbon Whiskey, with Iron Smoke Distillery in Rochester, N.Y., in 2023. The Iron City release represents the official launch of Bleier Family Whiskey's first publicly available product and the first in a broader family whiskey portfolio.

The whiskey honors the Bleier family's long connection to spirits and hospitality. Rocky's father, Robert, owned a bar in Appleton, Wisc.

The partnership started with a visit by Rocky to the East Deer distillery last year. He was looking to produce whiskey a little closer to home.

"We really enjoyed hanging out with him and his family," said master distiller Matt Strickland.

Instead of distilling something "really specific" for the family, Strickland said Iron City took the four-time Super Bowl winner on a tasting tour of spirits in their warehouse.

"We tasted a bunch of things, saw what he liked and didn't, and came up with a blend of two different rye whiskeys from different barrels" that fit the profile he was looking for - something "bigger" than most whiskeys but also approachable.

The resulting blend, finished on June 16, is definitely a rye whiskey, but a little more floral and sweeter than most, Strickland said.

"It's our whiskey, but it's done in a different style [than people] associate with us."

The whiskey's 102.0 proof plays tribute to the cousins' NFL careers. Bob wore number 10 with the Patriots and Rocky had 20 on his jersey for nine of his 11 seasons with the Steelers.

Iron City Distilling will release around 800 bottles of Bleier Family Whiskey on July 1 at its gift shop at 150 Ferry St., East Deer. A 750ml bottle costs $75. Rocky Bleier will be on hand for a meet-and-greet and to sign bottles from 5-8 p.m. July 1 and 10 a.m.-noon July 2.

While initially It will be sold exclusively through the gift shop, Strickland said the plan is to scale up production and eventually get the whiskey into selected Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores.

More info: bleierwhiskey.com

Washington's spirits

Liberty Pole isn't the only local distillery with America's 250th birthday on its mind. On June 9, Strip District-based Wigle Whiskey released a modern interpretation of one of George Washington's favorite drinks, a cordial called cherry bounce. It's made by infusing apple brandy with tart cherries and warm baking spices.

A recipe handwritten by his wife, Martha, suggests it was served at Mount Vernon, his landmark estate on the Potomac River in Virginia. Cherry bounce came up in conversation about a year ago when Wigle marketing director Elise Miranda and other staffers were bouncing ideas off each other and the folks just down the street at the John Heinz History Center.

"We really wanted to do something to commemorate America 250," said COO Alex Moser. "And it just kept mushrooming from there."

The history center helped to research the liqueur's history and Pittsburgh artist Mark Bender, whose work is currently showcased in the center's "My America: An Illustrated Experience" exhibition, designed the label's original artwork.

The distillery made just 250 375ml bottles of Cherry Bounce ($39) in time for a release party on June 18. All have since sold out, "so a part of me wishes we had made more," said Moser.

For those who missed out, Wigle recently released its new Pineapple Whiskey, which has the bold flavor of the distillery's award-winning rye whiskey with notes of pineapple, caramel and cherry. A 750ml bottle sells for $39 and a 375ml bottle for $29. Mose said is great for making a "rye-garita."

More info: wiglewhiskey.com

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 8:06 AM.