Is This the Most Magical Pour in Iowa? We Tasted Cedar Ridge Distillery's Nine and Three Quarters Rye to Find Out
- Amongst the Whiskey Team
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic."
–Albus Dumbledore
Cedar Ridge Distillery has just released its oldest expression to date, and it just might be the most magical pour in Iowa. The name behind this old straight rye whiskey intrigued us, so we sought out the answer, just beyond Platform 9¾. The number didn't come from just anywhere, though; it's the age of the whiskey within! While the TTB prefers to work only with integers, whiskey nerds can fawn over as much detail as they like when a distillery is both creative and transparent. This release is a subtle nod to the magical world of Harry Potter, and for a whiskey this limited and highly anticipated, the name couldn't be more fitting.
While Nick isn't a big Harry Potter fan, he knows enough to be dangerous and absolutely loves rye whiskey. Fortunately for the Amongst The Whiskey team, Jes happens to be both a published author and a lifelong admirer of the wizarding world. Pair that with our well-documented combined appreciation for rye whiskey and our deep respect for Cedar Ridge as one of the leading craft distilleries of this day and age, and this release already had all the ingredients for bottled magic.
Once word spread of this release, Jes wasn't about to leave anything to chance. Alarm set and ready the moment orders opened, she secured a bottle before it disappeared. That proved to be a wise decision, as Cedar Ridge released the whiskey in two online drops, one week apart, and both sold out within hours. As luck would have it, or perhaps patience, Nick was provided a bottle by Cedar Ridge for the purposes of this review. Thus, the magic continues as Jes and Nick join forces to jointly review Cedar Ridge's oldest rye whiskey released to date. Our tasting notes are written from a dual perspective, with Jes' notes written in the lovely gold of the Cedar Ridge front label, while Nick's notes will be in traditional black.
Company on Label: Cedar Ridge Distillery
Whiskey Type: A blend of straight rye whiskey
Mash Bill Percentages: 85% rye, 12% corn, 3% malted barley
Proof: 115° (57.5%)
Age: 9 years & 9 months
MSRP: $59.99
Further identification: This limited-edition expression features a blend of 9.75 year barrels hand-selected and blended by master distiller Murphy Quint
Nose: Holy candied fruit, Batman! The whiskey in this glass immediately bursts forth with the juicy scent of Gushers candy as soon as I stick my nose in it. Silky, sweet, and bold—the hallmarks of Cedar Ridge rye, in my opinion. My mouth is watering already. Another inhale: yummy red licorice tones galore on such a succulent nose-feel. There's a wide array of aromas: mint chocolate ice cream, lemon gumdrops, graham cracker pie crust, plums, and figs. As these tones slowly fade, some Hubba Bubba bubblegum moves in to take its place. Deep inhales produce a subtle black pepper tone that reminds me of Glenlivet, accompanied by New England florals Summersweet and Milkweed. The culmination of the experience has my mind in the realm of honey, vanilla, and a touch of clove.
After a taste, the nose gets a bit more shy as the taste buds are still firing signals and sensations long after the sip. Confectioners' sugar and molasses are comfortable on this easy-sipping rye. A sip and swirl releases lovely cinnamon sugar on top of toasted rye bread, dried wildflowers, farmers market honey dripping down the sides of a glass jar, and the slightest hint of Christmas spice. Going back in, my nose still loves everything it smells: vanilla, patchouli, and light florals. As the liquid disappears, richer notes of molasses, soft leather, and tissue paper appear. Late in the pour, cinnamon begins to dominate, most akin to a Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, sweet and enjoyable. The empty glass smells of marshmallow, rye grain, and milky oolong tea.
Palate: Goodness, is that a velvety mouthfeel, and wowza, is this exploding with flavor. Pink and red Starburst candies dance across the tongue on first taste, absolutely wild and incredibly lovely. The first sip almost tastes as if this rye has spent a moment in a finishing barrel, though it hasn't. Just Iowa winters and summers at work, I suppose. Another small follow-on sip produces more vibrant fruitiness that immediately made me believe this is a finished rye, but it seems that's not so. Incredible. Sipping further, I find this drinks well under its 115 proof points. A waterfall of flavors drench my tongue with each sip: there's chocolate and mint candies, puffs of ground cinnamon and clove, graham crackers, and toasted rye bread. A larger sip and swish is like tasting in high definition. Bold red licorice with a zing of cinnamon racing up the edges of the tongue is unbelievably clear to me. Sipping down yonder in the glass reveals light lemon tones mingling slowly, like an expressed lemon peel over an already sweet cocktail. As the liquid disappears, the flavors are strong and steady, with well-balanced oak, really lovely heat, and a sweet linger of fig, raisins, and honey buns. A touch of root beer can be found on the prolonged finish as I regretfully arrive at my last sip. It's delicious. A full circle return to the cherry and strawberry that the pour started with has left me with a big smile on my face. Yum. What a magical pour!
TL;DR: A wildly vibrant and fruity rye that has been aged well and expertly blended
Rating: 4.5/5
Kudos to the team on this one, because a blend of this size is not easy to pull off. Those fruit tones?! I'm smitten.
This release is yet another in a long line that has left me completely enamored with Cedar Ridge, much like falling deeper into a book series with every chapter.
Written by: The Amongst the Whiskey Team
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Looking forward to sampling a taste to link my Iowa heritage with this Cedar Ridge offering. My dad Paul Anderson grew up in southern Iowa and developed a love and respect for the outdoors that has endured and empassioned the next two generations. Great write up you two!