Cedar Ridge Distillery The QuintEssential Signature Blend American Single Malt Whiskey
Cedar Ridge Distillery The QuintEssential Signature Blend American Single Malt Whiskey is a 46% ABV (92 proof) American single malt from Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher, Iowa — Iowa's first micro-distillery (distilling since 2005), built by a family with nine generations of distilling heritage and training at Stranahan's in Colorado. The 100% two-row pale malted barley (imported from Canada) is split between peated and unpeated streams: the peated stream rests 4–5 years in former Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels, the unpeated 2–3 years in former bourbon barrels then finishes 1–2 years in rum, port, brandy, sherry and wine barrels. The two streams marry in a pair of 1,100-gallon toasted-oak solera vats ("tuns") that are never emptied beyond the halfway mark. A 750mL bottle. Buy American single malt online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Malt: 100% two-row pale malted barley
- Aging: NAS — solera-married peated + unpeated streams; rum/port/brandy/sherry/wine finishes
- Origin: Swisher, Iowa — Cedar Ridge Distillery
Solera in Iowa
The QuintEssential is American single malt built by self-described Scotch fans, and it drinks that way — several reviewers say Highland-style, with mild threads of peat running through. The solera vats are the heart of it: married, never fully emptied, so every batch carries the history of the ones before. Distillery-quoted notes: spiced mocha, gingerbread, fudge and coconut on the nose; a round, bright, light-to-medium palate of banana pancakes, caramel crèmes and rum raisin cake; a smooth, relaxed finish. The Quints' line on the whiskey: "The richness of our American single malt is strengthened by our immediate access to fresh, once-used barrels from a variety of sources, including our own wine and Port casks." Explore Cedar Ridge Distillery and the American whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: spiced mocha, gingerbread, fudge, coconut. Palate: round and bright — banana pancakes, caramel crèmes, rum raisin cake. Finish: smooth, relaxed. (Distillery-quoted copy via retailers; corroborated by Whiskey Wash.)
How to Enjoy
Neat in a tulip glass to catch the peat threads and the solera depth. A few drops of water open the wine-cask finishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The QuintEssential? Cedar Ridge's flagship solera-blended American single malt from Swisher, Iowa — peated and unpeated malted-barley streams married in toasted-oak solera vats, bottled at 92 proof.
What does Cedar Ridge QuintEssential taste like? Spiced mocha, gingerbread, fudge and coconut on the nose; banana pancakes, caramel crèmes and rum raisin cake on the palate; a smooth, relaxed finish.
Is The QuintEssential a Scotch-style whisky? It's an American single malt from Iowa (100% malted barley), built by Scotch fans — reviewers say it drinks Highland-style, with mild peat threads.
Iowa's answer to Scotch, married in solera — buy Cedar Ridge QuintEssential online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.