Templeton Rye
A small town in Iowa is the birthplace of Templeton Whiskey.
It was in the early 1920s that many defiant residents of the small town Templeton, Iowa became outlaws by producing a high-caliber and much sought-after whiskey known as Templeton Rye. Thanks to its smooth finish, the American rye whiskey earned the nickname of The Good Stuff and quickly brought notoriety to the tiny town.
ABV%: 40%-%45.75
Source: Rye, malted barley in the Mash Bill
ORIGINS / HISTORY
Templeton Rye Whiskey, introduced legally in 2006, tracks back to the early 1920s when residents of Templeton distilled a much sought-after rye whiskey. That bootlegging enterprise, forced underground during the Prohibition era, nonetheless flourished during that period. Today, the whiskey may be slightly different—instead of stills in basements and barns, the company has a modern, legal plant—but the entrepreneurial spirit remains true to Templeton’s roots.
In October 2006, 68 barrels of Templeton Rye—using a recipe that best matched the recipe of Alphonse Kerkhoff, co-founder Keith Kerkhoff’s grandfather—completed their four-year aging process and became legally available on shelves in Iowa.
The company expanded its plant from a small building, adding 11,000 square feet in 2007 for a more efficient production process. An automated bottling line went online in 2008, providing a quicker, more efficient method of bottling.
In August 2018, Templeton Rye hosted a grand opening event, welcoming city and state officials, special guests and Templeton residents. The event was held in celebration of the organization’s new 34,500 square-foot distillery, a $35 million project that will more than double its staff, bringing 17 jobs to a community of 350 residents, feature a museum and visitor center, and produce up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually.
With the official opening of the state-of-the-art Templeton Whiskey Distillery in August 2018, the time was right to implement a global roll out of the brand. Templeton Rye is now available in 15 international markets and continues to grow its global footprint..
Learn more about Templeton Rye Whiskey by visiting www.templetonrye.com and become a member of the Bootleggers Society to stay in the know on all things Templeton Rye.
AWARDS
• Jim Murray Whiskey Bible “ Rye Whiskey of the Year”
• Gold Medal at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
• Included in Ian Buxtons “ Top 100 Whiskeys to try before you die” Publication
