Templeton Rye Is Opening Its Own Distillery

After years of bottling sourced whiskey blended with a proprietary formula of added flavorsto create its unique taste profile, Templeton Rye will soon be distilling. Cofounder Keith Kerkhoff and Templeton, Iowa Mayor Ken Behrensbroke ground on a distillery in the town on April 5^th. The 34,500-square-foot facility will havea capacity of 500,000 proof gallons, and the site includesa warehouse that can store up to 40,000 barrels. It's projected to be complete in about 18 months.The distillery marks a new chapter in Templeton's brief history. Though the brand claims roots in the Prohibition era, Kerkhoff and Scott Bush founded thecurrent iteration in 2006. The company currently bottlesrye whiskey from MGP that's combined with a proprietary flavoring additive (which is legal in non-straight rye whiskey) and local purified water. With the new distillery coming online in2018, Templeton will shift to producing its own whiskey—ceasing its relationship with MGP—with the aim of bottling it by 2022.