templeton ryeTempleton Rye is a small batch rye whiskey aged for more than four years in charred new white oak barrels. Templeton traces its roots back to prohibition. When booze was outlawed in 1920, some enterprising residents of tiny Templeton, Iowa came together to create Templeton Rye Whiskey.

Templeton was purportedly a favorite of Al Capone and became very popular during Prohibition. Fast forward several decades, and the first legal batch of Templeton was bottled in 2006, still adhering to that same Prohibition-era recipe. While rye whiskeys only need 51% of their makeup to be composed of rye grains, Templeton is comprised of a mash that’s more than 90% rye.

On the nose, Templeton Rye has aromas of toasty grains, creamy toffee and some peppery spice. Take a sip to find a rye whiskey that’s remarkably smooth, especially considering its high concentration of rye. Templeton has flavors of caramel, dried fruit and buttery biscuits. In a word, delicious. It’s very thick, almost chewy, but smooth on the palate, with a tamer bite than most ryes. It finishes long and warm, with creamy flavors giving way to a slightly bitter spice.

Rye is the traditional whiskey of choice in cocktails like the Manhattan, Old Fashioned and Sazerac. Templeton works great in all three, but it’s certainly worthy of sipping on its own.

Stats:
– 40% Alcohol by Volume
– $40

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