We really do like when companies such as Cedar Ridge take the step from being things like a winery or brewery or pub and branch out into the spirits game. That being said at the top let’s get into why this small batch bottle of ‘bourbon’ isn’t exactly what we had in mind.
It’s simple really. This isn’t bourbon, it’s an okay whiskey made better by ice. All the extraneous bits though sour us to it. We don’t like the basic look or making us write words like fractioning, and while we recognize that small-batch = more money it should also equal more quality. We’ll see about remembering to try their rye though.
What they Say: “From discerning ingredient selection to skilled fractioning, blending and bottling, taste the expertise our artisans bring to every bottle of Cedar Ridge dark aged spirits.
Cedar Ridge Bourbon is built on a base of corn whiskey, barley, and rye. Artisans guide the nation’s favorite blend through distillation, charcoal filtering, and aging. This is the best of the Midwest in a bottle. Enjoy!”
Taste: 6.0 – At the start, it’s a bit barbeque-y, some smoke, and some sweetness. It’s actually a bit nice.
Aftertaste: 4.5 – On the tail end though it nearly goes ‘hot’ like an overproof whiskey which ties into the warmth in the burn.
Burn/Smooth: 3.5 – It does have a burn to it, and isn’t exactly smooth. That being said there’s a nice warmth to it that keeps going for a while.
Aroma: 4.5 – It’s light, and hard to get into, but once you do it’s – fine? It’s not bad or great or complex or anything really it’s just fine.
Honesty: 3.0 – ‘Skilled Fractioning” might be a contender for the dumbest thing we’ve heard in a while (aside from Sippical). Honestly what – you’re good at fractions? Best of the Midwest? Well, let’s address the elephant in the room who we’ve already said hi to above. Iowa is a full state away, just call yourself a whiskey you flyover fucks. Add that to the basic checklist of ‘small batch’ whiskey look, and they lose many points.
Mixability: 6.0
W/ Rocks: 7.0 – Oh yes. Oh my. A bit of ice and it opens the door here. Gone is the burn, that warm whiskey, and smoke take center stage and before that there’s just so much more flavor. It’s not the best whiskey on rocks, but it is much improved.
Whiskey and Ginger Ale: 5.0 – Meh. The hopes that this would work for a soda cocktail seem to be dashed.
Whiskey and Coke: 6.0 – It’s better with Cola, but not by much.
Value: 3.0 – Nope. Sorry, but once again you can only charge these kinds of prices if your small batch whiskey is actually – good. Oh sure this is nice on ice, but there’s a dearth of single barrels at this price that is so much better.
Google Shop Average: $38
Website: https://www.crwine.com/
Reviewer Scores:
BuffaloJern: 4.0
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Metric Score: 31.5/70 |+| Metric Average: 4.5 |+| Reviewer Average: 4.0
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Final Thoughts: We are sincere about the phrasing of ‘remembering to try their rye’ because that’s sadly what this whiskey is – entirely forgettable. It will bother this writer along for the f-word (not the fuck one), but for anyone who’s had it, or even reads it on this site – it’d be easy to miss.
