by Michael Satterfield & Lucas Kepner 03/11/2024
Cedar Ridge Distillery has been operating since 2005 and holds the distinction of being the first distillery to be licensed in Iowa since the Prohibition era. Initially, the distillery produced wine and various other spirits before venturing into whiskey production. In 2010, they launched their first bourbon as a tribute to Iowa's status as the largest corn-producing state in the US.
Cedar Ridge's Iowa Bourbon is typically bottled at 86 proof, but they also produce occasional single barrel barrel-proof versions that can reach up to 116 proof. We were provided with a range of samples to try but we will attempt to give you a sense of the overall taste of Cedar Ridge's offerings. All were very good, but their 115 barrel proof will knock your socks off.
On the nose, Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbons has a lot of corn, grain, and new oak scents. There is a slight tingle of ethanol, but it is not overpowering. Despite being aged for a minimum of four years, the nose lacks depth, giving the impression that it has not spent much time in the barrel.
The palate is more interesting than the nose, with flavors of corn, light vanilla, fruit jam, a hint of pear, and oak. However, all the flavors are light, and one has to search for them. The ethanol present in the nose is not noticeable on the palate, and the Barrel Proof bourbon drinks lower than its 100-proof rating. The Port Cask Finished bourbon did have an additional note of cherries that could be differentiated from the others in the collection.
The finish starts with notes of white pepper, light fruits, vanilla, and fresh wood. These flavors then fade away, leaving only the white pepper and fresh wood, which linger for a short while. The finish is simple, while the Port Cask finishes warm and dry.
Cedar Ridge may have been the first licensed distillery since Prohibition. However, the state now has eight other whiskey distilleries and the region is seeing wider acceptance as a serious producer of whiskey. This bourbon's uniqueness lies in being bottled 20 proof points higher than the standard 80-proof version found in stores. However, it lacks distinguishing flavor characteristics.
For something extra special, Cedar Ridge has also released an American Single Malt, they call The Quintessential Signature Blend. The bottle we are tasting is from Batch Number 13, from 2005, when we tell you it is good, it is really good. In fact, it won Double Gold at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and racked in several other gold and silver medals, including being named in the top 8 whiskeys by Wine Enthusiasts.
On the nose, the Single Malt comes on strong with green apples, mint, pears, and a hint of eucalyptus mixed with smoked barley. As you sample it has a bit of a citrus followed by chocolate and wood flavors.
The Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbons are priced at around $40, while the American Single Malt will set you back around $60. Which is in our opinion a fair price point to explore a new region of bourbon production.
Cedar Ridge creates a memorable small-batch bourbon and while the distillery is very young, we expect their bourbons to only get better over time as they increase the average age of the bourbon used.
You can learn more and find a retailer near you at cedarridgedistillery.com
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