History

Cedar Ridge Distillery is described as Iowa's first distillery. The distillery released its first batch of Iowa Straight Bourbon in 2010. Over the years they have gained recognition such as: in 2016 they were crowned "Best Craft Whiskey" at the NY World Wine and Spirits Competition, and in 2017 they were named "Distillery of the Year" by the American Distilling Institute. In 2020 Cedar Ridge became the #1 selling bourbon in Iowa, and in 2021 and 2022 they were selected as "Best American Single Malt" by John Barleycorn. They also operate a Private Barrel Program, which offers a limited number of private barrels to selected retailers, businesses, and whiskey clubs. The distillery describes itself as "Authentic by Nature" and talks about the whiskey heritage in the Midwest and about using Midwest grain as the foundation for their products.

Production / Manufacturing

Philosophy and Raw Materials

Cedar Ridge emphasizes that their whiskey comes from the Midwest grain belt and especially Iowa corn. They stress craftsmanship and sustainability by doing the best with what nature offers and by minimizing waste. There is an emphasis on the best grains and raw materials sourced from the fertile Iowa corn belt.

Process Outline

The description focuses on the Midwest grain as the basis for their products and on an approach that blends traditional craftsmanship with a deliberate use of resources and minimal waste.

Products / Whiskey Series

Core Whiskeys

• Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• The Quintessential American Single Malt
• Barrel Proof Bourbon
• Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon
• Bottled-in-Bond Rye
• Straight Rye Whiskey
• Wheat Whiskey

Limited Releases / Special Editions

• American Single Malt Limited Releases (The Quintessential)
• The Quintessential Special Release (various single cask releases)
• Single Barrel Collection (S.B.C.) / The Quintessential Single Cask Series

Private Barrel Program

Cedar Ridge offers a limited number of private barrels to selected retailers, businesses and whiskey clubs each year.

Partner Products

The distillery also showcases partner products in the Partner Products section (including names like Slipknot and others).

Visits / Experiences

Tasting Room hours: Monday–Friday 11-9 | Saturday 11-5 | Sunday 9-5. Private events and weddings are offered through their side areas, and there are pages dedicated to Tours and private events. Brunch buffet menus and related events are also mentioned on the pages.

Philosophy

Authentic by Nature is the label for Cedar Ridge, describing itself as a producer of Midwest whiskey from one of the USA's most renowned grain regions. They emphasize Iowa grain as the foundation for their products and highlight a culture of staying true to nature's gifts – creating the best products with minimal waste and thereby carrying forward a whiskey heritage in the Midwest.