Templeton is the representation of everything foul about the modern whiskey market. Be it the disingenuous “apology” from their Chief Bullshit Officer Keith Kerkhoff after getting sued for lying or their continued use of “artful storytelling” to this very day, they are a symbol of how to do it wrong. That artful use of selective truth is grandly on display with their latest release, the Templeton Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey.
This isn’t the first time I’ve called out Templeton on their BS. I gave the Templeton Rye Whiskey a 00 for trying to pass off a flavored rye whiskey as something else. I made a video response to Keith’s “apology” which was little more than lawyer induced fluff. And more recently I skewered their Templeton Rye 6 Years press release.
Since then press releases have come and gone and I let them slide, but the release for the new Templeton Barrel Strength Rye got my ire up again for several very good reasons. 5 of them in-fact which are conveniently listed below.
5 Reasons To NOT Buy Templeton Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey
- It’s not new. James E. Pepper 1776 Barrel Proof Rye is the same thing as the Templeton Barrel Strength and it’s $20-$30 cheaper. They both source MGP’s 95/5 rye mash and neither carry a significant age statement. You’re just paying more for Templeton’s BS.
- Still telling a fluff origin story. Templeton continues to say they’re “using a recipe that best matched the recipe of Alphonse Kerkhoff” which simply isn’t true. They bought what was available on the market and what was available on the market is the same rye whiskey James E Pepper, High West, Bulleit, George Dickel and dozens of others use.
- Still telling a fluff whiskey story. Adding to #2, they continue to say that their stuff “may be slightly different” than what Pappy Kerkhoff made, but that’s like saying rum and whiskey are only slightly different. By Keith’s own admission the original “Templeton Rye” recipe was made from rye, sugar and yeast. That isn’t a whiskey and is significantly different than an actual whiskey made from 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley.
- Continued lies of omission. Nowhere in the 461 word Templeton Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey press release do they mention this is a sourced whiskey. They spun some yarn and artfully danced around the subject neither claiming distillation nor sourcing. They talk about their new distillery and about expanding “production process” in 2007 to continue the illusion without making the kind of claim that got them sued for $2.5MM.
- Don’t feed the beast. The only way to change anything in the marketplace is with your wallet. If you don’t support bad behavior it will go away. That includes at the bar… especially at the bar.
If at this point you’re thinking “well they did finally make a distillery doesn’t that make it a little better”, or something along those lines, my instinct is to say no. It’s more likely the tales will get even taller now that they’re distilling. But in the name of fairness, here’s the one possible reason to buy the new Templeton Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey: it’s a straight whiskey.
Because it’s a Straight Rye Whiskey they can’t add their flavoring to it. Unless they lied to the TTB, and who knows with these guys, this is the unadulterated version of what typically ends up in a bottle of Templeton Rye. So if you drop $60+ to pick this up you can see just how much their flavoring agent changes the whiskey. Or, as I said above, you can spend $20-$30 less, buy some 1776 Barrel Proof Rye, have the same experience and support a company who isn’t Templeton.
It was a foregone conclusion that I was never going to buy this, but if you’re a wallet-conscious consumer and you’re considering it you now have 5 Reasons to not buy and one reason to buy it. Weigh it all and make your own decision. Cheers.
P.S. I’ve pasted the entire press release below just in case you wanted to read it in all of its glory. But first, a reminder picture of what the Templeton Rye label looked like before the lawsuit (left) and after (right).
INTRODUCING TEMPLETON RYE BARREL STRENGTH STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY
New Limited Edition Expression Pays Homage to Templeton Iowa’s Spirit on Heels of Distillery Grand Opening
(TEMPLETON, Iowa) November 26, 2018 – Templeton Rye Whiskey announces the launch of a new limited edition expression, Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey in celebration of the people and rich history of its hometown, Templeton, Iowa.
Templeton Rye Barrel Strength is both complex and intriguing and represents the expression in its purest form. This exquisite whiskey is a fitting tribute and salute to the town of Templeton – a small town with a strong spirit.
Natural, non-chill filtered and bottled at 57.2% ABV, this special addition to the Templeton Rye portfolio is a barrel strength edition matured and aged to perfection in flame charred American oak barrels bursting with rye spice and black pepper giving way to summer fruits, butterscotch and oak. Complex notes of orchard fruits deliver a delicate warmth with a lingering finish dovetailing beautifully with a velvety character that balances its considerable strength.
In August, Templeton Rye hosted a grand opening event, welcoming city and state officials, special guests and Templeton residents. The event was held in celebration of the organization’s new 34,500 square-foot distillery, a $35 million project that will more than double its staff, bringing 17 jobs to a community of 350 residents, feature a museum and visitor center, and produce up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually.
Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey is now available at a suggested retail price of $59.99. Boasting a full body, luscious finish and complex flavor, Templeton Rye Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
IMAGES: https://www.dropbox.com/s/yd3aatba5o71r17/2018%20TR%20Barrel%20Strength%20750ml.png?dl=0
# # #
About Templeton Rye
Templeton Rye Whiskey, introduced legally in 2006, tracks back to the early 1920s when residents of Templeton distilled a much sought-after rye whiskey. That bootlegging enterprise, forced underground during the Prohibition era, nonetheless flourished during that period. Today, the whiskey may be slightly different—instead of stills in basements and barns, the company has a modern, legal plant—but the entrepreneurial spirit remains true to Templeton’s roots.
In October 2006, 68 barrels of Templeton Rye—using a recipe that best matched the recipe of Alphonse Kerkhoff, co-founder Keith Kerkhoff’s grandfather—completed their four-year aging process and became legally available on shelves in Iowa. The company expanded its plant from a small building, adding 11,000 square feet in 2007 for a more efficient production process. An automated bottling line went online in 2008, providing a quicker, more efficient method of bottling.
Learn more about Templeton Rye Whiskey by visiting www.templetonrye.com and become a member of the Bootleggers Society to stay in the know on all things Templeton Rye.
Contact: Kate Laufer Gorenstein, President, KLG Public Relations
Email: pr@templetonrye.com