Review: Templeton Fortitude Bourbon
Templeton made its modern name in the late aughts with sourced rye, a tribute to the brand’s pre-Prohibition heritage. It wasn’t until 2018 that they began distilling their own whiskeys, including Fortitude Bourbon, which debuted earlier this year as the company’s first house-distilled expression and its first bourbon offering. Named to honor the 352 resilient residents of the distillery’s hometown, Templeton, Iowa, Fortitude is made from a uniquely high rye mashbill of 55% corn, 40% rye, and 5% malted barley, at least some of which (the corn) is reportedly sourced locally from farmers within 15 miles of the distillery campus. Templeton offers up quite a bit of info in the press release including fermentation time (3-4 days), yeast strain (fermintis safspirit), and barrel char (Level 4). We’re even told the stills are made by Forsyths. What we don’t get is an age statement outside of the straight designation, so we can only presume this is four years old. Let’s check it out.
The aroma is soft – no surprise given the proof – but it is nevertheless enticing, which is certainly something that can’t be said for a lot of young bourbons. It’s grain-forward but not gritty or sharp, with a gentle vanilla cream sweetness, some minty rye spice, and barrel-driven accents of cinnamon sugar and fresh oak. The palate is round and reasonably balanced, skewing perhaps a little too sweet for some drinkers. Notes of corn pudding and cream soda are accented with a light dusting of cinnamon candies, clove chewing gum, and maraschino cherry. It’s not a big rush of flavor – the proof wouldn’t really allow that – but the balance of approachability and flavor is well-struck. The finish is a touch thin and to the point, but that is almost forgiven as notes of white pepper, cherry cookies, and lemon pound cake kept me dipping back for another easy-drinking sip. It’s an altogether respectable and enjoyable inaugural house offering from Templeton, and one whose evolution in the coming years we’ll be curious to watch.
92 proof.
B+ / $40
Templeton Fortitude Bourbon
$40
