We’ve posted a video tour of our distillery in Templeton, Iowa. Enjoy!

Harry W. Harmeyer discusses the Chevy getaway car used to escape from revenue agents in Templeton, Iowa, back in the 1930s.

To view more TR stories on YouTube, please visit our channel.

Rick is a man of few words, but of great importance to Templeton Rye. At the distillery, you are most likely to find Rick at the filler topping off the bottles and corking them before they are labeled.

Rick was born on August 17th, 1964. His previous occupation was in industrial maintenance. Rick’s hobbies include hunting and fishing. He especially enjoys hunting for coyotes (thanks Rick, for helping our pheasant population) and fishing for bass.

Growing up, Rick was told stories of a great uncle bootlegging the original “Good Stuff.” He has enjoyed learning other TR stories while working for Templeton Rye because Rick is a local history buff. He often employs one of his favorite pieces of advice which is to “trust, but verify.” Rick calls Thomas Edison one of his heros, but when asked what one person, dead or alive, he would like to have dinner with, he said his grandfather.

Rick’s favorite way to drink TR is on ice or mixed with Limeade.

We’re always delighted to hear your stories about TR. Jim from Minneapolis wrote to us with the following memory:

My mother lived in Templeton, Iowa, from around 1920 to 1950. She now lives in Waterloo. I am her son, age 49. When I was a young boy I was sometimes given a tablespoon of Templeton Rye when I had a bad chest cold. The combination of the alcohol and liquid coating seemed to work.

Thanks for sharing, Jim!

Got a TR story of your own to share? Please leave a comment below, or click here to tell us all about it.

Templeton Rye is the proud whiskey sponsor of Des Moines’ first annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival on Saturday, March 1st. Stop by and join us for some delicious bacon, PBR, samples of TR, and even a bacon- and TR-inspired dessert! Chef Lance Avery from Chicago will be producing a maple bacon cheesecake with a Templeton Rye glaze. Does it get any better?

The event will take place at The High Life Lounge and El Bait Shop (200 SW 2nd) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More information can be found at BaconUnwrapped.com.

Below is a personal message from Scott Bush, President of Templeton Rye, regarding the Iowa Native Distillery Bill currently being debated in the Iowa Legislature.

We built the Templeton Rye Distillery in Templeton, Iowa. Currently we are expanding from 1,500 to nearly 12,000 square feet. An integral piece of our expansion plans is to be able to sell Templeton Rye to distillery visitors. In order for this to happen, the Iowa Native Distillery Bill will need to pass through the Iowa Legislature.

This bill will allow craft distilleries located in Iowa to sell up to 5,000 proof gallons of spirits to tourists visiting their distillery for home consumption. Distillers would pay a fixed $14.50 per proof gallon directly to the State of Iowa.

Currently in the U.S., there are 17 states that allow (or are considering allowing) native distilleries to sell product on-site, including our neighbors Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Lynchburg, Tennessee, has a population of 350 people and receives 250,000 visitors annually due to the presence of the Jack Daniel Distillery. At Templeton Rye, we feel the State of Iowa should support native distilleries, or risk missing out on a great tourism, economic development and value-added agricultural opportunity.

You may show your support of the Iowa Native Distillery Bill by contacting your legislator today.