This thermometer and hydrometer were given to Templeton Rye founder Scott Bush by his maternal grandmother, Mary Margeret Blum Schroeder. They were given to Grandma Schroeder by her mother, Mava Bennett Blum.

Mava, who is Scott’s great-grandmother, was born in 1903 and was one of the first female graduates from Creighton University in 1924. During her teens, she would accompany her father Jess Bennett, on various “runs.” Jess, born in the 1870’s, was an entrepreneur and owned at least one bar in Omaha. His other business was bootlegging, particularly around Defiance, Iowa.

Mava had many stories about these times but told only a few, including being chased and shot at by the Feds and abandoning several cars. Jess was apparently also quite a card player with winnings including a wheat farm in South Dakota, a gold tooth and a beautiful diamond ring still worn by his granddaughter Mary today.

Photo credit: Mandy Miller Photography
Templeton Rye President Scott Bush and his grandmother Mary Margeret Blum Schroeder

Hi folks,

We are very excited about our new landscaping project at the distillery. We have planted a variety of native flowers and grasses around the distillery, including Indian Grass, Big and Little Bluestem, Butterfly Milkweed, Black Eyed Susan, Spider Wort, Purple Coneflower and Aromatic Aster.

A special thanks to our friends Liz Garst and Elizabeth Hill at Whiterock Conservancy, Gloria from Windy Ridge Flowers in Coon Rapids and Linda and Tobin Bush for all of their great work.

Like most things in our business, it will probably take a few years to be ready, but we are very excited about our collection of native Iowa flowers and grasses. Please come visit us and see for yourself.

All the best,

Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye

Scott Wegner from Salt Lake City, Utah, sent us a TR cocktail recipe for a concoction he created last spring called The Wall Street. He wrote us again this spring to share this story and remind everyone that The Wall Street makes for a great summer cocktail.

To those at Templeton Rye,

I have been drinking Templeton Rye for over a year now and continue to enjoy every sip. I grew up in Des Moines but now live in Salt Lake City. A few of my lucky friends have had the opportunity to try Templeton and fell in love. Unfortunately I can’t get Templeton in Utah so every trip home to Iowa I “bootleg” as many bottles as I can back to Utah. My friends demand for your whiskey far surpasses what I can fit in my suitcase. Anyhow, I work as a bartender and this is a recipe I invented and everyone seems to enjoy, especially during the summer. Hopefully in the future Templeton will be available in Utah so I can pour my favortie whiskey for my bar patrons and not just friends at my house. I hope you enjoy my recipe…

Scott Wegner

Click here to view Scott Wegner’s recipe for The Wall Street.

For more Templeton Rye recipes, be sure to check out the Barkeep page on our website.

Last night I had the pleasure of sponsoring a BBQ book release party for one of Chicago’s famous BBQ experts Gary Wiviott. Paramount Room  (415 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL) graciously hosted the event.  Paramount Room featured classic cocktails made with Templeton Rye, along with Paramount’s own creations The Daisy and the Carroll County Fair Sour.  

Gary teamed up with author Colleen Rush to share his impeccable attention to detail and his gift for keeping it simple.  Colleen waded through Gary’s boisterous personality and helped breakdown his methods and expertise.  This book breaks down the basic techniques of BBQ and will make any novice into a pro.  Gary also shares some of is time tested recipes for sauce, rubs and all things BBQ. It was a great night and I had the opportunity to talk with some of Chicago’s media and some of Gary’s companions at LTH Forum.  

I think everyone is excited for warm weather BBQ and refreshing Templeton Rye drinks this summer.  Please feel free to create some of your own cocktails this summer and share them with us.  Bartenders all over the country are enjoying the spicy notes of Templeton and combining them with fresh and interesting ingredients.  

Happy tippling,

Michael Killmer, Brand Manager

Ron Hodne from Manning, Iowa, talks about his Chicago connections to Templeton Rye during the Prohibition Era.

View more stories on YouTube at our Templeton Rye channel.

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