Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Bourbon

A wonderful trip down memory lane. Many years ago, when I was between jobs and finances were tight, I had to satisfy my whiskey cravings with more budget-friendly options like Cedar Ridge. Even though the older version was a modest 80 proof, it was actually quite smooth and easy to drink. Sadly, it was discontinued. Fast forward six years, and I spot a familiar name on an unfamiliar bottle. Cedar Ridge is back? Naturally, I had to try it and revisit those memories. The aroma on this one is intriguing. Not what I recall, but much time and many whiskies have passed since then. It smells somewhat like sawdust and cherries. The flavor is completely different from what I remember. The abundant sweet corn is gone, replaced by a touch of vanilla and brown sugar resting on a cedar plank, which is a distinctive quality. Interesting... I think this whiskey actually captures cedar better than Kamiki, which produces a whiskey specifically aged in cedar casks. The finish is where this whiskey truly excels. As the flavor travels down, the finish expands beautifully, filling your mouth. It's sweet and fruity with a bit of corn. It reminds me of a bowl of Apple Jacks mixed with vanilla soy milk and a sprinkle of sugar. It's actually quite pleasant, though very brief. But honestly, at this price point, did you expect a long, lingering finish? In the $40-something price range, this newer Cedar Ridge Straight Bourbon holds its own very well. It's quite good and intriguing... though I still miss the old 80 proof version I used to buy for $28 a bottle from Grocery Outlet.

COLOR/ Pale Gold - Light Amber AROMA/ Sweet Apple, Pear, Slight Straw, Slight Vanilla Wafer, Slight Cinnamon, Alcohol FIRST SIP/ Light, Sweet, Butter, Caramel, Warming Alcohol, Slight Pear, Slight Honey, Slight Corn TASTE/ Sweetness, Light Oily, Pecan, Slight Caramel, Vanilla, Slight Smokey Wood, Warming Spice, Nutty Buttered Popcorn FINISH/ Slightly Smooth, Sweetness, Spice, Hint of Carmel, Warming, to Lingering Spice, the lingering spice dissipates over 5 months of being open! MT GLASS/ Sweet Carmel, Butterscotch, Vanilla, Sweet Wood, Slight Lumber Yard (Earthy Sweet Wood), Hint of Corn Age Statement: 3 years Minimum per the label 86 proof Bottle Batch 0408. I sampled this with my spouse at a venue in Iowa a little over a year ago... It had more Butter, Caramel, Wood and Smokiness then. They are now bottling it at 6% higher proof than before; I'm uncertain if that would significantly alter the Taste and Flavor profiles... PLEASE DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME... This is a Delicious Beverage, Sweet, Smooth, Spicy, not overly complex. 1.31.21 Review - With Oxidation over about 5 months this beverage is as good as when I tried it in Iowa July 2019. Last Rated at 4.5 Re-Reviewed: 9.16.20 1.31.21 Be Kind, Be Generous, Be Real, Be Responsible!!! CH33RS

Nose - apple, apple, apple! I'm getting both green apple and honeycrisp very strongly right from the start, along with a good amount of sugary sweetness. It's light and oaky. Palate - A bit young initially, with a nice sugary sweetness, and a hint of the strong apple from the nose. Overall - While a slight youthfulness comes through in the tasting, the strong apple on the nose and the very sweet follow-through make me really appreciate this offering from Iowa.

Initially, I wasn't impressed and put it away. Four months later, trying it again over ice brought out more of the flavors. It's young and light, but sweet. It lacks significant depth for a bourbon. A decent sipper over ice, but I wouldn't use it for Manhattans. Batch 0406

A caramel aroma, with a soft palate featuring mild butterscotch candy flavors. It has a light white pepper note early on and some moderate warmth as it goes down, but finishes softly. I'd prefer a bolder flavor, yet it's very drinkable neat.

Batch # 0416 Sampled neat. The nose has notes of damp oak, dusty corn, and cherry vanilla cola. It's a bit thin at 86 proof. Flavors of honey tea, pear, and vanilla are consistently prominent. The finish is short, with notes of charred oak and pepper.