We recently welcomed several teams of riders from Iowa’s big bike ride across Iowa to our BootLEG Tour at the Templeton Rye distillery. We really enjoy this unique event, and it’s a great way to welcome folks to Iowa and showcase our state and people. Many thanks to everyone who came by for some tours and fun, and all our best to the riders for a fun and safe ride across our great state.
The Green City Market is Chicago’s only year-round farmers’ market promoting local, sustainable farmers, producers and chefs. Last night I joined over 75 of Chicago’s most innovative chefs at the Green City Market Annual Chef’s BBQ in Lincoln Park. It was a celebration of all things local, from farm to plate.
The chefs shopped the market Wednesday morning, and then went back to their kitchens in a giant tailgate-like setup to create the freshest dishes in the city. Chef Rick Gresh from David Burke’s Prime House even included a little of The Good Stuff in his dish. All of his ingredients originated from less than a thousand miles from Chicago. He started with dry aged prime ribeye, topped with fingerling potatoes combined with Templeton Rye to make a warm potato salad. It was amazing!
While the chefs were busy firing up the grills, I was busy with 3 of the top mixologists in Chicago batching cocktails. BOKA’s Dan De Oliveira and Sepia’s Josh Pearson and Peter Vestinos all volunteered to create special cocktails for TR, Death’s Door Spirits and Casa Noble Tequila. Josh from Sepia created a Templeton Rye cocktail called the R&R Smash, which included fresh-pitted cherries supplied by Pete from Seedling Fruits in South Haven, Michigan.
R&R Smash Templeton Rye:
Templeton Rye
pitted cherries
rosemary leaves
lemon balm leaves
lemon juice
simple syrup
BOKA’s Dan De Oliveira and Sepia’s Josh Pearson and Peter Vestinos making the R&R Smash cocktail
The event was a huge success and we made lots of new fans. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hello and who are embracing the “farm to table” movement.
Cheers,
The Templeton Rye team recently welcomed a group of bartenders from Ames to the tour the distillery. Our visitors consisted of folks from Es Tas, Legends, Mickey’s Irish Pub and Thumbs. They toured the distillery and learned a lot about the history of Templeton Rye, dating back to the Prohibition Era. They also received a cocktail tutorial featuring the Classic Manhattan and TR’s own Shirley Templeton. After the VIP tour, the group had a great lunch at Templeton’s own Corner Station and went on a tour of the town. We invite all of you to check out one of these great bars the next time you are in the Ames area.
If you have a bar that is interested in a tour of our facility, please email us at info@templetonrye.com.
Templeton Rye was a proud sponsor for the 2nd year in a row of the Mods vs. Rockers vintage motorcycle and scooter rally in Chicago on June 20th. The rally is based at Delilah’s, the world famous whiskey bar. Below are some highlights:
This is the last of our 4-part Happy Hour at The Plaza TR story videos series. In this video, the residents share a few more memories about Templeton Rye during the prohibition era and raise their glasses to The Good Stuff.
Want to see more videos? Please visit our YouTube channel.
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,
Photo courtesy of the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market Facebook Page
The Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market kicks off this Saturday, May 2nd with Opening Day at the Historic Court Avenue District. The Downtown Farmers Market goes rain or shine every Saturday 7 a.m. – noon, May 2nd through October 31st, 2009. You can expect to see nearly 200 vendors from 47 counties at the Farmers Market this year.
Templeton Rye is excited to return to the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market again this season. You can find our booth at the Farmers Market on the following Saturdays: May 23rd, June 13th, June 20th, June 27th, July 11th, August 15th and September 12th. Be sure to stop by and say “hello” to the Templeton Rye team.
We’re excited to be a part of this great event. Templeton Rye President Scott Bush will be a guest judge at Cochon 555 in Des Moines, Iowa, this Sunday, April 19th.
WHAT: A group of Iowa chefs will each prepare a heritage breed hog from head to toe for this competition. Cochon 555 is the only national chef competition promoting heritage pigs and breed diversity and is currently on a ten city tour. Guests and professional judges will determine a winner based on creative, classic preparation and overall best flavor. The winner will be crowned the “Prince of Porc”. In addition, five family-owned wineries will showcase their wines. The event is presented by Diversified Financial Group, Inc.
WHO: Taste Network presents
Andrew Meek, Sage
Matt Steigerwald, Lincoln Café
Jamie Monaghan, The Des Moines Embassy Club
Tag Grandgeorge, Le Jardin
Bill Overdyke, Centro
Wineries: Elk Cove, Patz & Hall, Lioco, Four Vines and Jasper Winery
WHEN: Sunday, April 19th, 5:00 p.m.
Chef & Judges Reception 3:30 p.m. For VIP ticket information contact: brady@tastenetwork.com.
The VIP features the reserve wines of Elk Cove and artisan cheese reception by Gateway Market with special guest Herb Eckhouse of La Querica, this portion is $125.
WHERE: STICKS 3631 SW 61st Street, Des Moines.
WHY: To benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: Iowa Chapter in honor of Will Krueger.
HOW: For Friends and Family of Iowa the cost is $80 per person. This is an exclusive price to those who are involved in “preserving and revitalizing the flavors of the heartland.” Advance ticket purchase required for this discount. Password: buylocal
Hi folks,
We wanted to say thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and came to see my presentation at WhiskeyFest. It was a great week for Templeton Rye in Chicago, and we really appreciate all of the enthusiasm and support. We are just getting started, and every bit of encouragement is a big deal to us.
Our team had a long week, but we really enjoyed the time we spent with fans, friends, bartenders and fellow distillers. Also, thank you to our friends at Malt Advocate for putting together another tremendous event.
All the best,
Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye
Last night we attended an event hosted by our friends at Binnys. We had a great time pouring for folks and catching up with some of our friends in the industry. There are a lot of really cool whiskies being developed right now.
The best part about last night was that Master Distiller Meryl Kerkhoff and wife Imelda arrived in town. They joined Keith and I at Binnys, and then our team all went to dinner at Ditka’s. Iron Mike was a coach for the Cowboys when Keith played so we got to hear several of the old training camp stories and how guys used to smoke at halftime back then.
After Ditka’s we went and watched our friends Hello Dave at Stanley’s (Jason even sang a song) and then for a nightcap or two at the Drawing Room where Templeton Rye is featured in their Manhattan. It was a great end to a great night. Below are some pictures of our evening.
Cheers,
Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye
Meryl sharing secrets with Jimmy Russell from Russell’s Reserve
Keith and Scott with our friend David Perkins from Rendezvous Rye
The TR team at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant
