Templeton Rye 4 Year Old Rye Whiskey

Templeton Rye 4 Year Old Rye Whiskey is a 750mL rye whiskey made from a 95% rye, 5% malted barley mash, matured a minimum of four years in new, flame-charred American oak barrels, and bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in Templeton, Iowa, from whiskey distilled in Indiana. It is the bottling that carried the Templeton name from the brand's 2006 revival — the modern heir of the Prohibition-era rye known as "The Good Stuff". It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.

• ABV: 40% (80 proof)
• Size: 750mL
• Age: Minimum 4 years
• Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
• Casks: New, flame-charred American oak
• Style: Rye whiskey (this bottling is not labelled "straight")
• Origin: Distilled in Indiana, bottled in Templeton, Iowa

The Good Stuff of Prohibition Iowa

During Prohibition, the farmers of Templeton, Iowa, distilled a rye so well regarded in the speakeasies of Chicago, Omaha and Kansas City that it earned the nickname "The Good Stuff" — and was said to be a favourite of Al Capone, as the lore is told. Keith Kerkhoff, grandson of a Templeton bootlegger, revived the family recipe legally in 2006, and this 4 Year bottling was the flagship from the start: high-rye, smooth-spiced, and built for the classic cocktails rye was invented for. See the range on the Templeton Rye vendor page or browse our rye whiskey collection.

Tasting Notes

Per the producer: a dry, grassy aroma with natural spice; a hint of caramel, butterscotch and toffee with allspice on the taste; a deep amber, lingering and slightly chewy body; and a balanced, clean, silky finish.

How to Enjoy

The classic serves: a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, where the 95% rye spice does the work — or neat, the way the speakeasies drank it. The rest of the range is on the Templeton Rye vendor page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Templeton Rye called "The Good Stuff"?
That was the Prohibition-era nickname for the rye bootlegged in and around Templeton, Iowa, prized in Midwest speakeasies — the name the modern brand, revived in 2006, inherited.

What proof is this bottling?
This bottling is 80 proof (40% ABV), as printed on its front label. Templeton replaced its flagship in late 2024 under the same barcode, so check the front label — it is the specification that counts.

Is Templeton Rye distilled in Iowa?
This bottling is distilled in Indiana and bottled in Templeton, Iowa. Templeton opened its own Iowa distillery in 2018, and its distillate features in later releases.

The original Good Stuff, four years in the barrel — order Templeton Rye 4 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.