Pete & Sherri, Married (2nd Anniversary) Peated American Single Malt Whiskey Review

 

Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery is a grain-to-glass craft distillery located in Swisher, Iowa. Founded in 2005 by Jeff Quint, Cedar Ridge is the first Iowa-licensed distillery since Prohibition. He came from a long line of farmers and began his operation, realizing it was time for Iowa to earn its place on the Bourbon distilling map.

 

In its infancy, the distillery utilized only corn grown on the family farm. As Cedar Ridge’s whiskeys became more popular, it couldn’t grow enough corn fast enough and now relies on 100% Iowa-grown corn to supplement what the family can grow. The barrels are stored in natural-environment warehouses, which allows the angels to take a larger-than-average share of the whiskey – about 18% versus the national average of 12%.

 

While Cedar Ridge makes several types of whiskey, it may be best known for its American Single Malts, which are bottled under the brand name The QuintEssential. Today, we’re exploring Pete & Sherri, Married (2nd Anniversary).

 

“I’m thrilled to release Pete & Sherri, Married (2nd Anniversary). Pete & Sherri, Married (1st Anniversary) remains my favorite expression we’ve ever made. It launched early in the special release program, so many missed out. Now, with the release of the 2nd Anniversary, far more people will get to experience it, which is very exciting. This year I’ve added a fun twist: we expanded beyond just first-fill Amontillado to include first-fill Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks alongside it, creating a more complex, layered profile while staying true to the Pete & Sherri core.” - Murphy Quint, Master Blender

 

Distilled from 2-row Peated Malt, one component was first aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads, then married with Peated Malt aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Amontillado Sherry Butts. The whiskey has a six-year age statement; however, some of the barrels slept as long as nine years.

 

Pete & Sherri, Married (2nd Anniversary) will be available beginning May 1, 2026, with limited distribution in Iowa and in its online store for $99.99.

 

The big question, of course, is whether you should purchase a bottle? We’ll have to #DrinkCurious to answer that. But first, I must thank Cedar Ridge Distillery for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Single Malt
• Distiller: Cedar Ridge Distillery
• Age: 6 years
• Mashbill: 100% peated 2-row Pale Ale barley
• Cooperage: Peated Malt first aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads, blended with Peated Malt aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Amontillado Sherry Butts
• Alcohol Content: 58.4% ABV (116.8°)
• Price per 750mL: $99.99
• Naturally colored, non-chill filtered

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this whiskey neat. Its ginger color stood out prominently. A medium rim created randomly spaced, thick, fast tears that raced back into the pool.

 

Nose: After waiting for about 15 minutes to allow the whiskey to breathe, I began my nosing journey. There was a lovely smell of grilled meats, rich caramel, plums, cherries, and lime zest. There was also a hint of allspice. When I drew the aroma into my mouth, I discovered a leathery, fruity taste of classic Oloroso sherry.

 

Palate: With the first sip, I encountered a viscous, weighty texture that left behind a warm, candied fig sensation on the front half of my tongue. It had to stop and ponder it as it was so unusual. With the second try, I found flavors of plums, blueberries, and cherries on the front of my palate. The middle featured dark chocolate, lime zest, and dry leather, while notes of clove, allspice, and smoked brisket hit the back.

 

Finish: Allspice, older oak, dry leather, and clove were offset by dark chocolate, cherries, lime zest, and blueberries. Smoked brisket played the part of the fulcrum. They seemed complementary while commanding my attention. Dark chocolate and allspice were the last to hold on, finally fading at 2:13, making for a very long duration. It seemed arid at the very end.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: When I first heard about Pete & Sherri, Married (2nd Anniversary), several things were going through my mind: Peated American Single Malts? Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads? Amontillado Sherry Butts? Cask strength? Yes, please!

 

During my nosing and tasting, I found peaty notes that I might have attributed to a Port Charlotte Scotch whisky, with its signature smoky meatiness. Allspice and dark chocolate made for an almost natural blend for the brisket. The various fortified wine influences were easily identifiable. And that finish; oh, that finish – it was almost like gift wrapping!

 

The team at Cedar Ridge did a stupendous job. I never had a chance to try the 1st Anniversary release, but if it is anything like the 2^nd Anniversary, I can understand why Murphy considers it a favorite. It is a truly outstanding American Single Malt, deserving nothing less than my Bottle rating. 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.