Templeton Rye is Back in Stock

During the 1920s, Al Capone and his gang referred to the rye whiskey coming out of Templeton, Iowa as simply “The Good Stuff.” Townspeople of Templeton secretly produced hundreds of casks a month for illegal distribution throughout the country. While initially intended to be a makeshift whiskey fix, rye ended up garnering quite the following.

After the repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 1933, the popularity of rye began to decline; corn-based bourbon was less expensive to make and its sweeter taste appealed to a larger audience. Newly founded distilleries hopped aboard the bourbon bandwagon and the once-popular rye was all but forgotten.

Over the past few years, however, nostalgic cocktail conjurers and spirit producers have resurrected rye whiskey from a dusty afterthought to a highly-curated and collected crown jewel. Many of the country’s largest distilleries are even redirecting bourbon resources back to the making of rye.

The first legal batch of “The Good Stuff” was released in 2006, created using the same Prohibition-era recipe, handed down on a scrap of napkin by the son of the whiskey’s creator, Alphonse Kerkhoff. A limited amount of Templeton Rye is now distributed in 12 states.

The H&F Bottle Shop is allocated a small amount of this storied whiskey and when it arrives, it doesn’t last long. After selling out before the holidays, we are happy to announce that Templeton Rye is back on our shelves. Made up of more than 90% rye grains, we love to use Templeton in many classic cocktails, especially the Manhattan. Its assertive citrus flavors and peppery bite stand bravely against the tempering sweet vermouth and aromatic bitters, truly elevating this cocktail. 

Cheers - Maggie

H&F Bottle Shop is located at 2357 Peachtree Rd. Atlanta, GA 30305.  Hours are 10am-10pm Mon-Sat. Open Sunday 12:30pm-6:00pm. (404) 841-4070