Templeton Rye carries the romance of Prohibition Iowa on its label — the small town of Templeton was famous for the bootleg rye its farmers made during the dry years, supposedly a favourite of Al Capone. The modern brand leans hard on that heritage, and after some legal turbulence over sourcing claims a decade ago, the company built its own distillery in Templeton itself. Today the brand operates from Iowa, with older stock still rooted in MGP's celebrated rye mashbill.
The 6 Year is the elder of the two core expressions, and the extra time in oak shows. Where the younger Templeton is bright and grain-forward, this one has settled into something darker and more contemplative. Bottled at 91.5 proof, it pours a deeper amber and carries a noticeably richer nose — caramel, allspice, orange marmalade, that faint leather note that older ryes tend to develop.
On the palate it's plush. The pepper is still there — this is rye, after all — but it's wrapped in toffee and baked apple and dark cherry, the wood's sweetness pushing through and rounding the corners. There's clove and cinnamon stick, a touch of cocoa, and the long warming finish carries dried fruit alongside the spice.
It's the bottle I'd reach for on a cold evening when I want rye's character but not its brashness. Sipped neat or over a single rock, it shows what extra years in barrel can do for a high-rye mashbill — softening without sanding away the personality. A grown-up rye for grown-up moments.
