Cozying Up To Small Batch American Rye

Shawn gave me a bottle of Templeton Rye, a.k.a. "The Good Stuff" last winter. We opened it tonight.

It always fun when a microbrand has a special story to tell. Templeton Rye has lots of stories to tell--one story being that it was Al Capone's favorite--and the producers and old-timers around Templeton, Iowa are busy telling them on the brand's blog, on Twitter and on YouTube. Which makes a sense, since this is the kind of product which benefits greatly from word of mouth.

As a bourbon drinker, I needn't venture far to enter rye whiskey land. Rye is a bit spicier and it doesn't have the caramel notes found in the Kentucky variety. It also benefits from an exceptionally clean finish.