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.

We continue our 4-part TR story series this week with part 3 of Happy Hour at The Plaza. In this video, a resident of The Plaza named Hilda shares a few stories involving the revenuers, drunk hogs and her father hiding Templeton Rye under the swing set.

Want to see more videos? Please visit our YouTube channel.

We continue our 4-part TR story series with a video of residents of The Plaza, an assisted living facility in Manning, Iowa, reminiscing about The Good Stuff with Templeton Rye’s Keith Kerkhoff and Jason Walsmith during their weekly happy hour.

One resident tastes the “legal” Templeton Rye for the first time at the age of 91. Another resident, Florence Parson, shares a story about a doctor nursing her mother back to health with Templeton Rye in 1929.

Want to see more videos? Please visit our YouTube channel.

Staff from Trostel’s pose for a photo with Templeton Rye team members

We were pleased to welcome various members of Trostel’s Dish and Greenbriar staff to Templeton for a visit in June.

It was a great day, with a lively bus ride and great tour focusing on the history of Templeton Rye and the production, aging and bottling process. We really appreciate the enthusiasm for Templeton Rye shown by these great restaurateurs.

We highly recommend these great spots for drinks and/or dinner. Dish is located at 12851 University Avenue, Suite 400 in Clive, Iowa, and Greenbriar is located at 5810 Merle Hay Road in Johnston, Iowa.

Templeton Rye bottlers Gin Knobbe and Anna Mae Irlmeier show the Trostel’s staff members how to label the bottles

Trostel’s staff learning about the Templeton Rye production, aging and bottling process

On June 22, 2009, Steve Cannon will begin an 11-day, 300-mile run across Iowa to celebrate life. During those 11 days, he will run with children battling cancer, cancer survivors and those wanting to honor the memory of a family member or friend. The purpose of The Run To Cure Cancer is to create awareness, raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and to give hope.

When we heard Steve’s story, we thought it was great that he was doing something so unique and cool in Iowa for such a good cause, and we wanted to help in any way. The Templeton Rye bus will be the official support vehicle of The Run To Cure Cancer. Check out Steve’s blog post about supporting “The Run” to learn how you can climb aboard the Templeton Rye bus for a day or a week to help support his cause.

Please join us in supporting Steve at the Fundraising Party on Friday, June 26th at Colby Park in Windsor Heights, Iowa. We will celebrate with an evening of BBQ, beer, pop, and free massages for anyone who runs or bikes to the party.

The Plaza is an assisted living facility in Manning, Iowa. Manning is a neighboring town to Templeton, and many of the people who live there are lifelong residents of the region. Every Friday afternoon they have a happy hour. On this particular Friday, the function was hosted by Templeton Rye. After a couple of sips, everyone started reminiscing.

We kick off this TR story series with a video of Merlin Rostermundt of Manning, Iowa, sharing his memories about Templeton Rye and his grandfather’s visit from The Feds.

Want to see more videos? Please visit our YouTube channel.

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

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 share this photo with you of our new sign at the Templeton Rye Whiskey Distillery in Templeton, Iowa.
From left to right: Meryl Kerkhoff, Kevin Boersma, Scott Bush and Keith Kerkhoff

It appears that someone has already stumbled upon it. Check out this photo that @mebreton of Des Moines, Iowa, captured and posted to Twitter via Twitpic.

Be sure to drop by the distillery this summer and check it out. Here’s the link to our distillery tour dates.

We’ve received a few inquiries about our inventory in response to many of you having a hard time tracking down a bottle of The Good Stuff in Iowa, so we thought we’d fill you in on the details. As for our inventory, here’s the scoop: Our product takes over four years to make, so we only have available for sale what we made four-plus years ago. We’re still a small company and were a very small company back then, which is why we’re only currently selling in two states (Iowa and Illinois).

Some of you may remember that we sold our first year’s worth of product in three-and-a-half months, and then we were totally out of product for over eight months. Rather than finding ourselves in that position again, we’ve made a strategic decision to do a monthly allocation. We put together our allocation plan for Iowa based on our previous year’s experience, but yes — it’s tight, as we simply do not have a lot of whiskey.

April - 400
May - 500
June - 400
July - 500
August - 400
September - 400
October - 1,200
November - 1,200
December - 600

We also wanted to take a moment to thank all of our fans out there. We truly appreciate all your support (and patience)! If you have further questions or comments about our allocation strategy, please leave a comment below or reach out to us via email.

Cheers,
Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye

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

On Sunday evening we attended the very first 3rd Coast Cocktail Club at Bar DeVille. The idea is for top bartenders in Chicago to hang out and talk with suppliers in a low-key environment. Low-key fits us well, and Keith, Killmer and I met and talked with a ton of big-time industry folks here in Chicago. The enthusiasm for Templeton Rye and Iowa was tremendous and meant a lot to us. Honestly, we were a little overwhelmed.

After the event we had dinner with some friends at Cordis Brothers Supper Club, a great spot on Irving Park and then hung out and listened to some music at the Long Room.

Cheers,
Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye

Chas from Redding, California, sent us this story about discovering Templeton Rye during his visit to Ames, Iowa.

Nov. 08, in Ames, Iowa. Just finished up a short week-long contract teaching thing for a Fed agency and it was time to eat and revel in the successful class. For several years prior, I have gone on the track of a rye whiskey semi-fanatic. You have to understand, I don’t like bourbon. Something about mixing a big-name 60’s bourbon and root beer to excess made a lasting impression, and I haven’t liked any that resembled bourbon or whiskey since. Well, maybe some real expensive Scotch stuff.

My partner and I went to an Irish pub in Ames. I don’t do much beer/ale, so I ordered my normal “Perfect Manhattan”, a rye whiskey drink I really like and have come to enjoy immensely. But, as a west coaster living in a town with of questionable demographics, plain, pure rye is hard to find. The mixologist was a semi-rookie and didn’t know if they had any rye. Surprise, surprise, not many bars have stocked up on rye. So boring, I guess. In short order, I was told that they had a Rye, Templeton, would that be okay? I told them I never heard of it but to bring it on, “a Perfect Manhattan”, of course. Quickly the owner came over and inquired as to what was a “Perfect Manhattan”. My recipe is 2:1 with the 1 being 50/50 sweet/dry vermouth. What a super cocktail. It made for an enjoyable evening, basking in a job well-done.

Next morning early, like 5:30 am at the airport, I’m wandering the concourse waiting my flight when a wall display catches my eye. Rye whiskey, Al Capone, Templeton Rye is there, all over the wall. What a story, on the wall ! What a good rye! And, I can’t find here on the west coast. Please help, because it is a damn fine rye.

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

There’s a really cool bed and breakfast called Gin’s Inn just down the road from the Templeton Rye distillery in Templeton that we think you should know about. Whether you’re planning a relaxing getaway or would like to turn your distillery visit to into an overnight or weekend stay, be sure to check out the inn, which is within walking distance from our distillery.

The Innkeepers Virginia (Gin) and Leroy Schultes invite you to experience their hospitality first hand:

Our goal at Gin’s Inn is to capture a cozy, warm atmosphere of beauty and comfort while giving personal professional service that anticipates our guests’ needs. Come and let us ease your mind and warm your heart. We are serving up the recipe for relaxation.

Gin’s Inn features a blend of comfort and traditional style with four uniquely-decorated guest rooms to suit your specific tastes and make you feel right at home. In-house telephones and wireless high speed internet access is available throughout the home, and all overnight stays include a continental breakfast.

For more information about the amenities at Gin’s Inn or to inquire about a reservation, visit the Gin’s Inn website. To view our upcoming distillery tour dates, visit our distillery tours page.

Below, Templeton Rye President Scott Bush explains our joint effort with Iowa distillers to be able to sell product at the distillery.

Sandra Hines talks about her memories of Templeton Rye growing up in Carroll, Iowa, and how the telephone operators would warn the local tavern owners of raids 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.

Jeff and Jamie Schug of Johnston, Iowa, recently enjoyed the Ultimate Templeton Experience with a group of close friends: Maggie and Steve Jackson, Brenda and Bill Maly and Nicole and Rob Beaman.

Their day began at the Renaissance Savery Hotel in Des Moines, where they were picked up in the Templeton Rye bus and transported to Templeton for a VIP distillery tour, including a chance to label a bottle of The Good Stuff.

In addition to the tour, the group also enjoyed a great lunch at The Corner Station, a classic cocktail demonstration and a driving tour of historic Templeton (which turned into quite an adventure when the bus got stuck in the snow). The trip back to Des Moines included stops at Chuck’s Place in Coon Rapids and Tojo’s in Jamaica. “Team Schug” reports that their group had a fabulous time during their visit to Templeton.

Pictured, from left to right: Brenda and Bill Maly, Jamie and Jeff Schug, Nicole and Rob Beaman, Maggie and Steve Jackson

The Ultimate Templeton Experience is a great way to escape from the cold weather, stay warm with friends and learn a little about Templeton’s history. If you’re interested in this one-of-a-kind adventure, you can email us at templetonexperience@templetonrye.com and book a date. We have a potential opening coming up on Saturday, February 14th, if you’re looking for something unique to do on Valentine’s Day!

Running after the bus.

Templeton Rye President Scott Bush and Master Distiller Meryl Kerkhoff

Eighty years ago, when bootleg Templeton Rye was in the height of its
production, a very important event happened in tiny Templeton, Iowa. Our
Master Distiller, Meryl Kerkhoff, was born and started a course of
history that would eventually bring The Good Stuff to your glass.

A large group of friends and family came together at the VFW in Manning,
Iowa on Saturday night to celebrate. There was plenty of Templeton Rye
being poured, as well as the traditional cold sandwiches, potato salad,
beans, baked goods and enough birthday cake for the entire town.
Meryl is a living treasure for our company and everyone who knows him.
Happy Birthday, Meryl!

Pictured from left to right: Distillery Manager Kevin Boersma, President Scott Bush, Master Distiller Meryl Kerkhoff, Assistant Master Distiller Keith Kerkhoff and Creative Director Jason Walsmith

Pictured from left to right: (front) Dan Kerkhoff, Scott Kerkhoff, Ron Kerkhoff (back) Keith Kerkhoff, Mary Bertelsen, Imelda Kerkhoff, Meryl Kerkhoff and Marty Kerkhoff

We tracked down and interviewed Shane Smith about his Great Grandfather, who distilled whiskey on the farm, and his Great Uncle who sold lots of sugar at his store in Halbur, Iowa.

View more stories on YouTube at our Templeton Rye channel.

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