All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one.
- William of Ockham
Murphy Quint had a simple vision in mind when he returned to his family's distillery in Iowa after leaving Stranahan's in 2014—to move the company away from treating all their spirits equally and focus on whiskey. Lucky for Murphy, a high-quality craft distillery in Iowa was well underway by the time he stepped back into the family's operations. With nine generations involved in the distillation of spirits under the Quint name, Jeff Quint, founder, business savant, and father to Murphy, has been at the helm at Cedar Ridge since 2005. On the Cedar Ridge website, Murphy Quint explains why the focus on bourbon made sense to him:
When I originally came back to Cedar Ridge, the company was producing a little bit of everything—bourbon, rum, brandy, vodka, etc, with no real focal point to its product portfolio. Considering that I was exposed to a major whiskey boom while I was working in the state of Colorado, I pushed hard for Cedar Ridge to focus on whiskey production, specifically bourbon. We grow corn in the state of Iowa. Bourbon is made from corn. It just made sense.
This small-scale operation in Swisher, Iowa, has gradually expanded while gaining national recognition over the years. This may not sound like a huge feat, but it really is when you consider the power of the goliaths like Jim Beam: Cedar Ridge bourbon has been the number one selling bottle of bourbon in Iowa for several years now. Apart from the standard bourbon and rye they produce, Cedar Ridge is also known for their award-winning American single malts. But Murphy didn't stop there. He wanted to diversify the portfolio with assets readily available at the distillery and winery. Yes, Cedar Ridge produces wine, too! A little tidbit I used as inspiration in the final chapter of my first novel, Time for Once. Yes, I'm a published author, too!
While some long-time enthusiasts and bourbon purists may have mixed feelings about finished whiskeys, Cedar Ridge is leaning into the cask-finished craze that has strong demand with what's already on hand—specifically sherry, port, and estate red wine casks being used to finish bourbon, rye, and single malt. As these projects reach maturity, the Cedar Ridge team will likely release "several new iterations of finished whiskeys over the next two years."
Experimenting with cask finishing allows us to explore the full range of flavor different casks can bring to our whiskey. We're excited to share out latest experiment!
I want to thank Cedar Ridge for providing a bottle to sample prior to the release. While my adoration for Cedar Ridge has grown over the years, the opportunity to review their new products honestly with no strings attached is a lovely full-circle moment for this whiskey enthusiast. So, let's dive into their latest cask-finished experiment!
Company on Label: Cedar Ridge Distillery
Whiskey Type: Iowa Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 74% local corn, 14% malted rye, 12% malted barley
Proof: 115°
Age: 4.5 years
Further identification: This release features Cedar Ridge's flagship Iowa bourbon, first aged in new white American oak before being finished in a first-fill Amontillado Sherry butt from Jerez, Spain, with availability at the distillery and online at an MSRP of $59.99
Nose: Oh, the smells wafting off my glass, my goodness. I'm engulfed in sweet caramels, chocolates, and fruits. It's a friendly, warm, and welcoming nose, generous with what it has to offer, like a straw gift basket left at your front door by a new neighbor. There are chocolate-covered fruits, cream-filled caramels, sticky raspberry jams, and freshly baked sweet bread. A few swirls usher in barrel funk, musty and damp, with a bit of heat prickling the nose hairs. Deeper inhales transport me to rolling hills, grapevines, a setting sun, a light breeze, and the sweet smells of vanilla and plums. It's safe to say I'm drooling, time to give this a sip!
Returning to the nose after a sip amplifies the fruit and creaminess, with baked plums melting on top of vanilla ice cream. There's a lovely hint of grass, wet with evening dew and grains of salt, scattered across a dinner table, with a ginger spice that seems to grow with each lift to my nose. It's really quite lovely. The empty Glencairn smells like a paper bag once filled with black raspberry jelly donuts.
Palate: Silky liquid covers my tongue and seems to absorb into my taste buds, acting like dry soil in need of steady rain. Caramel and vanilla jump the line as if they're aware the finish isn't meant for them because this is absolutely a sherry-finished whiskey. Deep, dark, brooding grape flavor, once swallowed, flashes into a warm, peppery spice that sticks to the back of my throat. With a second sip, the bourbon pops up again but quickly disappears in a game of hide and seek. There is no denying the leading fruit, and with each sip, it seems to sneak into and cover up the bourbon notes more and more. The finish is very sherry-forward with a slightly dry finish. This is undoubtedly a pour meant to be sipped easily, even at its proof, and one I can see enjoying outside in cooler temperatures with the hint of frost in the air. The last sip is a sweet and spicy delicacy that leaves a wistful smile on my face; I wish the Iowa bourbon had spent more time with me.
TL;DR: a flavorful journey guided strictly by a sweet & spicy sherry influence
Rating: 3/5
There is no doubt of the sherry in this pour and its influence on the flavors, but perhaps some doubt of where the bourbon fits in. The sherry imparted robust flavors that I can see pleasing many palates that prefer flavored whiskey. As someone who adores the unique characteristics of Cedar Ridge Iowa bourbon, I hope to see the crafty spirit shine more in future finishing casks.
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