Templeton Rye Throws Open The Doors To Their Own Real Distillery

The saga of Templeton Rye whiskey and its origins as a sourced brand has, over the years, been something of a poster child for those who feel that a whiskey’s location of where it was distilled should be more fully disclosed on the back of a bottle’s label. A lawsuit some years back by disgruntled consumers around this issue had Templeton in its crosshairs, though it was ultimately resolved a proper manner. More recently we had learned the folks at this company were building their own real distillery in Iowa, their home state, and now word is the doors there have finally opened.

As we consider this a bit of a watershed moment for this brand as it moves into the distilling its own whiskey space more deeply, we give you in their own words the details on what’s gone down:

August 7, 2018, marks the beginning of a new chapter for Templeton Rye Spirits, LLC and highlights our rich history with the community we call home. This 34,500 square-foot distillery, a $35 million project, was a significant investment in the community of Templeton. We are proud to bring the production of this legacy rye home. 

Introduced legally in 2006, the brand dates back to the early 1920s. The new distillery will allow Templeton Rye to be wholly produced in Iowa for the first time since the Prohibition era. 

• With the opening of the new distillery, Templeton Rye is now being distilled in Templeton, Iowa. The whiskey that is currently distilling in Iowa will be ready for market four years from today, as the aging process takes several years for the whiskey to reach its peak body, flavor and alcohol content. 
• After the Templeton Rye is distilled, aged and finished, it will be bottled at the Templeton facility. With the opening of this distillery, Templeton Rye brings all parts of the whiskey-making process back to Templeton, where it started decades ago. 
•  Our current Templeton Rye product available for sale on shelves across the U.S. was distilled and aged in Indiana; and finished and bottled in Iowa. 

Distillery Snapshot 

• 34,500 square-foot distillery 
• 55,000 square-foot barrel aging warehouse that can store up to 54,000 barrels 
• Located on 20-acres of land just east of downtown Templeton 
• Produces up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually 
• Features stills imported from Scotland to produce the highest quality spirits 
• 28 employees, up 17 positions from previous staffing needs 
• Includes museum, visitor center and tasting room 

Economic Impact 

• $35 million project, which includes a museum, visitor center and tasting room 
• Invested more than $1 million in the local economy 
• Donated $250,000 to the City of Templeton to build the Community Center, which was formerly a school 
• Utilized local contractors throughout Iowa for multiple aspects of the new distillery 
• Will attract thousands of visitors from across the country each year to further boost the economy in the region