Iowa Spring-Summer 21 - 16

TEMPLETON RYE

A tour of the Templeton
Rye Distillery includes
the museum, home to
many local artifacts.

16 IOWA SPIRITS

illegal whiskey production and other community
highlights.
Rye whiskey has rich American roots. One of
the young country's first spirits, rye whiskey predated corn-based bourbon. After Prohibition
changed Americans' palates, the sweeter taste of
bourbon became more popular than the spiciness
of rye whiskey. In the past decade, however, rye
has had a resurgence in popularity. Templeton Rye
can show you why!
From Templeton, head east. You can spend
some time in Des Moines (we've got plenty of
ideas above) or go directly to Cedar Ridge Winery
and Distillery in Swisher-Iowa's first craft
distillery.
The distillery started with vodka in 2005. In
2010, it created " Iowa's first bourbon since
Prohibition, " made from 75% corn. Cedar Ridge
also offers fruit brandies, gin, rum, and a whiskey
aged on charred bur oak from the banks of the
Cedar River.
Wines include young, fruit-forward reds and
whites; aged wines, including a French oak and
American oak-aged Chardonnay; and an off-dry
sparkling white. Cedar Ridge also offers fruit
wines-think grapes-plus-apples, apples-plus-cran-

berries, and apples-plus-cinnamon-plus-sugar.
The Cedar Ridge distiller and vintner both take
full advantage of the distillery/winery connection
by using each other's barrels. Sure, the convenience is a factor, but what's more important is that
the barrels can be refilled immediately, when they
are fresh and wet. This creates rich, flavorful products such as Lost Pirate rum, aged five years in
single-use bourbon barrels then in estate Port wine
finishing casks and oak; and Double Oak Reserve,
a red wine aged in traditional oak barrels then in
Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels.
Cedar Ridge is a destination in its own right.
Visitors can tour the production facility. They can
sample the wines or sit back and relax with a bottle.
They can enjoy the spirits neat or in a cocktail. And
they can settle down in the event center, tasting
room, vineyard room, or one of the outside patios
for a meal. The Cedar Ridge menu includes woodfired pizzas, shareable plates, butcher boards of
local meats and cheeses and more. All can be
served, of course, with cocktails and wine, as well
as with non-alcoholic drinks including house-made
lemonade or a cherry-and-Earl-Grey sour.
Now make your plans to taste the spirit of
Iowa!

Iowa Spring-Summer 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Iowa Spring-Summer 21