Templeton

Templeton Rye takes its name from Templeton, a small farming town in western Iowa where, according to local lore, rye whiskey was made illegally during Prohibition. The modern brand was launched in the mid-2000s and leans heavily on that history.

For its first years the whiskey was distilled in Indiana, at the large distillery in Lawrenceburg now known as MGP, from a high-rye recipe, and then bottled under the Templeton name. This sourcing became the subject of a well-known consumer lawsuit, after which the labels were changed to make the origin clear. The brand later opened its own distillery in Templeton, Iowa.

The core style is a spicy, fairly light straight rye. Buyers will meet the Straight Rye at 4 and 6 years, along with Barrel Strength, Single Barrel and Limited Release bottlings.

Around that core sit a number of finishes and side projects: Stout Cask, Maple Cask and Tequila Cask finishes, a Caribbean Rum Cask rye in the Series 2 line, Midnight Rye, and a Fortitude Bourbon. These vary a good deal in flavour, so the finishing cask on the label is worth reading.