Veteran Rye Review: Templeton Rye Whiskey

Official Product Website

History – Templeton is the prime example of the experience of the past and the innovation of the future. They strive to bring the heritage of our forefathers into today’s time mixed with the modern era taste. “Templeton Distillery is built on the shared experiences of our community. The roots of whiskey in our town can be traced back along family lines to the bootleggers of Prohibition. To this day, this rebellious and entrepreneurial mindset still holds true, where residents of our hometown unite together under a shared rallying cry of “A Strong Community Spirit.” A community that respects one another, that supports each other, and who comes together with a revived spirit. That was the town of Templeton, Iowa a century ago, and it’s the very same town today. We are following in the footsteps of our forefathers and crafting a whiskey in their tradition. A whiskey that respects the past yet is inspired by the future. We call it Templeton. More than any other spirit, whiskey represents both freedom and unification. It’s a show of strength as well as a peace offering. Templeton Rye whiskey brings people together in a way that transcends time, age, gender, and social class. As an original American Rye, we’ve learned that whenever you share whiskey, you share a part of who you are. It’s in these moments of truth that we’ve found our whiskey way of life.” –templetondistillery

Value – This is a good buy I believe for the $35 I paid.

Appearance – The bottle showcases a unique overall shape that I really like. The body has a big base, is skinner at the bottom and has a rounded top leading into a long neck. The rye is peanut in color, capped off by a cork. The Templeton embossing on the bottle is just great!

Nose – Pecan, floral, and fig newton with a citrus note. This has little to no heat, allowing you to truly appreciate all the pleasant fragrances. The nose is good, aside from the dryness I sense at the end. 

Palate – Honey, vanilla, and a smidge of that classic rye peppery bite. The good characteristics of this clean palate with a low alcohol punch that fades too swiftly, leaving a dry aftertaste.

Finish – Finishing notes contain honey, vanilla, and a dash of oak. The sweet qualities of the sip begin to fade as it moves from the palate to the finish, leaving a dry aftertaste. This seems to be the trend. This segment of the review has a little more heat, but I’d still classify it as low-medium.

Summary – In summary, This is slightly above average rye I would suggest. The dry feeling you get from this bottle hinders it from reaching for the great category. The good points of the nose and palate are great, however they don’t last long enough for me. Even with all that said I am happy with the review. Perhaps a higher proof would set this rye off.

“This is a decent rye that I am pleased with. I have definitely had worse for sure. It’s not one that will have you shi**** in high cotton, but I would buy it again. I look forward to hopefully reviewing the rest of their Ryes.“

–Eric Watkins

6

Uniqueness- 1-10 – 5

Appearance- 1-10 – 8

Nose- 1-20 – 14

Palate- 1-20 – 11

Finish- 1-20 – 10

Value- 1-20 – 12