Cedar Ridge’s QuintEssential: A Bold New Era in American Single Malt

After a years-long wait, American Single Malt whiskey (ASM) has finally achieved its status as an officially recognized spirits category, a milestone celebrated in late 2024. This moment filled many whiskey producers with a sense of joy, but it also raised pressing questions amid signs of a post-COVID slowdown affecting spirit sales.

Is American single malt—still overshadowed by the nation’s most cherished bourbons and ryes—capable of standing alongside the finest barley spirits produced globally?

Exploring the American Single Malt landscape
Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery is stepping up to the challenge. Founded in 2003 and releasing whiskey since 2010, Cedar Ridge has cultivated a loyal customer base in its home state and beyond. In recent years, they’ve made waves in the world of single malt expressions, positioning themselves among the best craft distilleries in America. This trajectory sets the stage for their latest release, a whiskey that promises to elevate the profile of American single malts further.

The QuintEssential Single Malt

Cedar Ridge’s newest offering, The QuintEssential Single Malt, honors Master Blender Murphy Quint and has fast become a niche favorite. This release, part of the QuintEssential series, is sure to create even more dedicated fans with its latest iteration: The QuintEssential: Wine Club, First Meeting.

Crafted from 2-row pale malted barley and initially aged in Cedar Ridge’s ex-bourbon barrels, this whiskey is a testament to creative aging techniques. Following its first maturation, it undergoes finishing in a blend of wine casks: amontillado sherry, tokaji, and moscatel, alongside peated malt aged in pinot noir casks. The dual maturation process culminates in a whiskey that encapsulates Quint’s preference for “big, bold single malts.” The exploration of diverse cask finishing also underscores Cedar Ridge’s strong connection to winemaking, being home to an active winery.

The birthplace of innovative spirits
The result of such meticulous craftsmanship is a whiskey that doesn’t shy away from expressing its character. On the nose, The QuintEssential: Wine Club, First Meeting offers a rich aroma of sweet dessert wine, combined with a subtle smokiness. The bouquet is a complex interplay of flavors—think charred grape skins, tawny port, burnt blood orange, and cranberry sauce. It’s an intricate profile that stands out boldly, demonstrating both refinement and robustness, reminiscent of vintage peated Scotches.

“The peat lingers just behind the other scents, bolstering sweeter elements instead of taking center stage.”

The Flavors and the Finish

As the experience unfolds on the palate, the initial boldness gives way to an engaging interplay of tart cooked fruit, brown butter, and a semi-sweet barbecue glaze. This dynamic can evoke memories of clove and pineapple glazed ham paired with peppery, brown sugar-laden burnt ends. Key flavors such as blood orange and cranberry sauce dance through the midpalate, enriched further by grape must and peaches roasted over campfire embers. To complete this journey, hints of wintergreen and celery bitters interweave to create a finish longer than one might anticipate from a whiskey of its type.

Cedar Ridge’s QuintEssential: Wine Club, First Meeting is non-chill filtered and naturally colored, bottled at an impressive 118.1 proof (59.05% ABV), with a suggested retail price of $99.99. Its high proof not only contributes to its complexity but also enhances its ability to capture the nuances of the various cask influences.

A sensory exploration of whiskey

The Future of American Single Malt

With the growing recognition and category designation of American Single Malt whiskey, the timing of Cedar Ridge’s release is perfect. Craft distillers across the nation are eagerly reimagining their approaches, seeking to carve out their identities among a crowded marketplace traditionally dominated by bourbon. Cedar Ridge’s innovative whiskey could serve as a blueprint for emerging distilleries.

As American single malts evolve, questions will remain about whether they can truly compete on the world stage against established spirits. However, with distilleries like Cedar Ridge leading the charge, the future looks promising. Their trajectory of quality production, combined with a commitment to unique and bold flavor profiles, is a rallying cry for the potential of American single malts.

Conclusion

With the introduction of The QuintEssential: Wine Club, First Meeting, Cedar Ridge Distillery not only champions the craft of American single malt but also invites whiskey enthusiasts to witness the evolution of the category firsthand. This is a landmark moment for American spirits, and it appears that the winding journey of exploration and innovation within the world of whiskey is just beginning.

To learn more about Cedar Ridge and their remarkable offerings, visit their official site and explore the engaging world they are crafting, one whiskey at a time.