Cedar Ridge Small Batch Rye Whiskey (700ml)

The Quint family has farmed and distilled spirits for generations. In 2005, Jeff Quint founded Cedar Ridge in the beleif that it was time for Iowa – the number one corn producing state in the U.S. - to share its homegrown Bourbon with the world. It became the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition. After releasing their debut whiskey in 2010, Cedar Ridge became a recognized player in the American craft spirits movement, winning multiple awards such as the American Distilling Institute’s “2017 Distiller of the Year” or “Best American Craft Whiskey” at the 2016 New York World Spirits Competition. Cedar Ridge use malted rye in the mash bill. The rye grains are soaked in water to germinate, then given a blast of hot air. Malting the rye generates an enzyme that's naturally helpful in the mashing process and adds weight and complex flavours of toast and biscuit to the whiskey. 43% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Sharp, even a bit of a sour edge, and some stemmy grass. Sweet and chewy grain in the mouth, with a nice touch of oily rye bitterness, some hot oak that quirks the tongue a bit, then a finish that melts into creaminess. 85 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Lew Bryson 2015

...Nose: Lots of corn, grain, and new oak. There’s a tingling of ethanol that makes its presence known, but not enough to be to unpleasant. While this is aged for a minimum of four years, it comes off as a whiskey that hasn’t spent a ton of time in the barrel due to the lack of depth displayed in its weak nose.

Palate. Corn, light vanilla, fruit jam, a hint of pear, and oak. The palate is more interesting than the nose, however all of the flavors present are very light and you really have to hunt them out. The ethanol that was clearly present in the nose isn’t present, and this bourbon ends up drinking lower than the 100 proof it clocks in at. Finish: White pepper, light fruits, vanilla, and fresh wood are all present at the start of the finish. These notes then fade away to just the white pepper and fresh wood, which linger for a short period. It’s simple, short, and leaves an unmemorable impression. - breakingbourbon.com

2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – GOLD