Cedar Ridge The Quintessential American Single Malt Whiskey 750 ml

Cedar Ridge is quietly proving that world-class American single malt doesn't have to come from Kentucky, Tennessee, or the coasts — it's being made in Swisher, Iowa, by the Quint family, whose involvement in distilling stretches back nine generations. Master Distiller Jeff Quint and his son Murphy, the Head Distiller — who learned to distill at Stranahan's in Colorado before returning home — built The QuintEssential together, and both are genuine, longtime Scotch whisky fans, a passion that shows clearly in this whiskey's construction.

The process starts with two-row barley imported from Canada, split into two distinct batches: one peated, one unpeated. The peated portion ages four to five years in former Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels. The unpeated portion takes a genuinely more elaborate path — first aged two to three years in former Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels, then finished across former rum, port, brandy, sherry, and wine barrels. Both streams are ultimately blended together using a solera system, the same never-fully-emptied cascading barrel method traditionally used for Sherry and Port, which the distillery credits directly with the whiskey's real consistency and layered complexity — "by never emptying the solera beyond the halfway mark, we gain a consistent complexity you can't get from single barrels."

The results have earned a genuinely remarkable sweep of recognition: 91 Points from Whisky Advocate (2020), 93 Points from the Beverage Testing Institute (2020), 91 Points from Distiller (2020), Gold at the 2020 International Craft Competition, and a full 5 out of 5 rating from The Whiskey Wash. WhiskeyFellow's independent review called it "a standout," writing "I wish more American distilleries tinkered with peat. This American Single Malt is a great introduction to it because the peat is understated compared to the rest of this whiskey. I loved the fruitiness, I enjoyed the complexity, and I wish I could find something to complain about, but I can't. Even the price is attractive. This is what American Single Malt should be" — awarding the whiskey a "Bottle" rating, WhiskeyFellow's top tier. The Whiskey Wash's own tasting found the liquid "a very clear, pale honey," the nose "spicy with cinnamon sweetness and sarsaparilla," joined by "unripe peach and fresh mountain air," alongside "tea biscuits and milk chocolate," calling it "deeply fragrant for a single malt," with the palate opening on "vanilla ice cream" before spice carries through "on the mid-palate, darkening toward sandalwood." The official tasting notes describe "golden amber" color, with "aromas and flavors of spiced mocha, gingerbread, fudge, coconut, and banana pancakes," a "round, bright, dry light-to-medium body," closing with "a smooth, relaxed finish" carrying "notes of caramel crèmes and rum raisin cake." This is genuinely one of the most decorated American single malts on the market — real proof that Iowa belongs in the same conversation as Scotland.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential American Single Malt Whiskey is produced by Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher, Iowa, under the Quint family, whose involvement in distilling spans nine generations. Master Distiller Jeff Quint and his son, Head Distiller Murphy Quint — who trained at Stranahan's in Colorado — built the whiskey together as longtime fans of Scotch whisky.

Made from 100% two-row pale malted barley imported from Canada, split into peated and unpeated batches. The peated stream ages four to five years in former Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels. The unpeated stream ages two to three years in former Cedar Ridge bourbon barrels, then finishes across former rum, port, brandy, sherry, and wine barrels. Both streams are blended using a solera system, never emptied beyond the halfway mark, ensuring consistent complexity across each release. Bottled at 46% ABV / 92 proof, 750ml.

Critics Reviews

Whisky Advocate — 91 Points (2020)

Beverage Testing Institute — 93 Points (2020)

Distiller — 91 Points (2020)

Gold Medal — International Craft Competition (2020)

The Whiskey Wash — 5/5

WhiskeyFellow (extended independent review) — "Bottle" rating (top tier):
"Bottle, Bar, or Bust: The QuintEssential is a standout. I wish more American distilleries tinkered with peat. This American Single Malt is a great introduction to it because the peat is understated compared to the rest of this whiskey. I loved the fruitiness, I enjoyed the complexity, and I wish I could find something to complain about, but I can't. Even the price is attractive. This is what American Single Malt should be, and a slam-dunk Bottle rating."

The Whiskey Wash (extended independent tasting):
"The liquid is a very clear, pale honey, slow to bead and form thick tears. On the nose, its spicy with cinnamon sweetness and sarsaparilla. Unripe peach and fresh mountain air waft through and are joined by tea biscuits and milk chocolate. Its deeply fragrant for a single malt. The body is lean, yet the attack is vanilla ice cream. Spice carries through on the mid-palate, darkening toward sandalwood."

Cedar Ridge Distillery (official tasting notes):
"Golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of spiced mocha, gingerbread, fudge, coconut, and banana pancakes with a round, bright, dry light-to-medium body and a smooth, relaxed finish that presents notes of caramel crèmes and rum raisin cake."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Spicy, with cinnamon sweetness and sarsaparilla, joined by unripe peach and fresh mountain air, alongside tea biscuit, milk chocolate, spiced mocha, and gingerbread.

Palate
Round, bright, and dry, with vanilla ice cream and fudge carrying the entry, developing coconut, banana pancake, and warming spice that darkens toward sandalwood, with a subtle, understated peat presence.

Finish
Smooth and relaxed, closing with caramel crème and rum raisin cake — genuinely light-to-medium bodied, with real complexity for the price.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Gingerbread or spiced baked goods
• Banana-based desserts
• Dark chocolate
• Aged, nutty cheeses

Serving Note

Best served neat or in classic stirred cocktails — a smooth, genuinely versatile sipping whiskey.