The life of a bootlegger means a lot of time spent on the road, without a place to call home. But that’s all changing for our partners at Templeton Rye, the Iowa whiskey-makers with a brand made famous for its history of bootlegging. As of last month, Templeton Rye has come home to Templeton, Iowa, and a brand new 34,500-square-foot distillery and 51,000-square-foot rackhouse for aging the spirits. According to a press release from the company, moving to the new distillery marks a turning point in the history of the company. This new chapter for Templeton Rye Spirits builds upon the company’s rich history with the community of Templeton, and what it means to be an Iowa whiskey.
At $35 million, according to the company, this distillery is an incredibly ambitious project from the popular brand, as well as a significant investment in the community of Templeton. According to the release, the distillery will bring 17 jobs—to a community of 350 residents—and will feature both a museum and visitor center, as well as producing up to 500,000 proof gallons of rye whiskey annually. That’s an operation any bootlegger would be proud of.
Templeton co-founder Keith Kerkhoff told the Des Moines Register that the distillery’s opening “completes us,” adding “we’re all home now.” He went on to say, “this was always in our long-term plan.” Previously the company built its products on a base whiskey produced in Indiana, but now the entirety of Templeton Rye will be produced and bottled in Templeton, from the north German rye of the mash all the way to the aged liquid that goes into the bottle. Production on the all-Iowa whiskey began in April, with bottles available for purchase in four years, according to the Register.
The story of Templeton is almost as potent as the whiskey itself. Though first legally introduced in 2006, the brand’s history dates back to the early 1920s, when local residents of the Templeton community earned a reputation for distilling a much sought-after rye whiskey. With the advent of Prohibition, the whiskey went underground but nonetheless flourished during the period. The story of Templeton’s dedicated distillers and bootleggers has helped the community’s namesake brand build a dedicated following among whiskey drinkers, and this newest chapter in the brand’s history drives home the connection between today’s legal, respectable Templeton, and the underground, speakeasy aesthetic of its past.
At Breakthru we are thrilled to congratulate Templeton on the opening of this gorgeous new facility, one that will surely be a draw for whiskey tourists visiting Iowa’s storied distilleries. Moreover, we are proud to bring Templeton Rye Whiskey to market, and to businesses like yours. Ask your Breakthru Sales Consultant about how you can build your sales numbers with Templeton and our entire portfolio of craft spirits.