The Schtick: Iowa’s indie whiskey distillery, Cedar Ridge, pays homage to its winemaking roots with this limited release rye whiskey that spent time finishing in emptied port barrels from the brand’s estate-made juice. This whiskey’s origins are a mashbill of 85% rye, 12% corn and 3% malted barley. It clocks in at 105 proof and has an MSRP of $59.99. Cedar Ridge’s claim to fame is that it’s Iowa’s first winery and distillery — which is no small feat. The winery distillery grows its own grapes and makes rosé, dessert wine and more. Coupled with its whiskey production, we can all agree that’s a heck of a lot of juice.
But is the juice worth the squeeze? Let’s find out.
Review #2587 | Rye Whiskey Review #1
Distiller: Cedar Ridge
Bottler: Cedar Ridge
Brand: Cedar Ridge
Selection: None
ABV: 52.5%
Age: NAS
Nose: Was anybody a Harry & David fan back when it was a huge thing in the 1990s? Well, I was when I was a kid. I remember when my mom and dad would get those baskets around the holidays, and they usually included these dark chocolate-covered Bing cherries, which were deliciously decadent. That’s what I get on the nose of this opulent rye whiskey. It’s full of dark chocolate confectionery notes, like Black Forest cake, espresso beans and dust, coupled with black tobacco. An intriguing nose for any chocoholic who has a thing for berries.
Palate: The initial promise of the nose satisfyingly carries through on the palate. Generous flavors of black fruits: cherries, plums, blackberries and the like dominate the pour. The port influence is deeply felt, and from a textural standpoint, this whiskey is thick and richly chewy. Picture chocolate cake doughnuts and fudge all day long.
Finish: There’s a nice kick of heat here, which shakes things up so this isn’t some chocolate dessert bomb. A little bit of rye spice adds some nuance to the whiskey, but it’s pretty much a chocoberryholic’s fantasy in liquid form.
Overall: I definitely like this. It’s a bit one-noted for me, but if I’m really in the mood for chocolate and berries or in search of a dessert rye whiskey, I’d definitely pick this bottle up out of a lineup. Another great job from the folks at Cedar Ridge.
Rank: 7
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