Templeton Cask Strength Single Barrel Rye Review (Batch 1)

Templeton Rye. If you had asked me a handful of years ago, I would have stated, ‘Nuff said. My statement had nothing to do with the quality of the whiskey it produced. In 2014, the brand had some legal snafus that I won’t rehash. The brand has since been sold and acquired by Infinium Spirits, and I’m satisfied that the subject of those claims has since been remedied.

 

Templeton Distillery is located in Templeton, Iowa, a tiny town outside Carroll. I’ve been to Carroll many times. In 2019, I visited the distillery they built just a year before, which is a gorgeous, modern facility. Part of their tour involves going through its famous bootlegging history. They’ve put a lot of money and effort into the presentation, which is well worth a visit. I was stunned by how creative those bootleggers of the day were (and how the entire town was in on fooling the revenuers).

 

Today, I’m exploring Templeton Rye Cask Strength Single Barrel. It is labelled Batch 1, and per both the bottle and the website, this is the very first 100% Templeton distillate made from a mash of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, billed as a limited release. Previously, Templeton Rye was sourced from MGP of Indiana, then became a blend of Templeton’s and MGP’s distillates.

 

“Templeton Distillery’s first ever Rye whiskey release, Single Barrel Rye is the high mark of small town handiwork. Aged for six years and bottled at cask strength from a hand selected barrel. Meticulously distilled, aged, and bottled right here in Iowa. This one’s as special as it comes.” – Templeton Distillery

 

I received this first-of-a-kind Rye as a holiday gift from a friend. Let’s #DrinkCurious and learn more.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Rye
• Distiller: Templeton Distillery
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak
• Alcohol Content: 58.55% ABV (117.1°)
• Price per 750mL: $49.99
• Batch #1

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. Its color was a definite orange amber. A medium rim shed tightly packed, thin, slower tears.

 

Nose: I allowed this Rye to rest for about 15 minutes before exploring the aroma. As I was waiting, my whiskey library was filled with floral notes. Once I started, the floral rye was more pronounced, and was accompanied by cherry cola, milk chocolate, and cinnamon. Inside my mouth, the air tasted of rye spice and milk chocolate.

 

Palate: Templeton Rye possessed a creamy texture that easily rolled across my tongue and down my throat. There was no palate shock and, surprisingly, not much heat. Notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, and cherry cola hit the front of my palate. The middle featured notes of rye spice, orange peel, and tobacco leaf. I found dry oak, cinnamon, and cherry pie filling.

 

Finish: The finish consisted of orange peel, cherries, cinnamon, rye, and cocoa powder. It was level and, at this point, offered some warmth to remind you of its proof. Toward the tail end, there came a punch of mint before everything faded out at 1:35, throwing it somewhere between a medium and long duration.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: One thing I couldn’t help but notice is the lack of a Straight designation as its flagship Rye does. There is no notation suggesting that additives were used, as was the case with its MGP-sourced distillates.

 

Templeton’s classic tagline is The Good Stuff™. And, its Cask Strength Single Barrel is good. I was somewhat shocked by how easy it was to sip and its overall lack of warmth. These days, a cask strength, 6-year, 117° whiskey at only $50.00 is eyebrow-raising at the very least. Add tasty to it, and you have a winner. My Bottle rating is well-deserved. 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.