Overview: Cedar Ridge Distillery has introduced Portside II, a limited small-batch bourbon that adapts the finishing methodology previously reserved for its single malt line. The release features a mashbill of corn, rye, and barley aged in new American oak before undergoing a complex three-cask finish. Available at $59.99 per bottle, it marks the first time this specific recipe concept has been applied to bourbon rather than single malt.
The Full Story
Cedar Ridge Distillery, located in Swisher, Iowa, is recognized as the state’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition. While the brand maintains a strong reputation outside the region through its QuintEssential single malts, this new release shifts focus to their flagship bourbon profile. The spirit utilizes a mashbill comprising 74% corn, 14% rye, and 12% malted barley, aged in new American oak before the finishing process begins.
Portside II is finished in three distinct casks: new French oak, first-fill Amontillado sherry, and first-fill port. The port casks are sourced from Portugal, California, and Cedar Ridge’s own estate. This approach mirrors the recipe behind the 2023 QuintEssential Special Release Portside single malt, which was finished in virgin French oak casks alongside ruby port and Amontillado sherry.
Master distiller Murphy Quint notes this is the first time a concept from one whiskey category has been moved into another. The bourbon side has previously seen wine-cask finishes in Anniversary Editions, but Portside II represents the first application of a specific single malt recipe to bourbon. It is priced at $59.99 for a 750 mL bottle, making it an accessible entry point compared to the roughly $100 price point of single malt special releases.
Production & Profile
The bourbon is bottled at 115 proof. The production process involves aging the base spirit in new American oak before transitioning to the finishing casks. This specific sequence allows the new charred oak of the bourbon base to interact with the finishing woods, though moving to bourbon means a sweeter corn base and new charred oak leave the finishing casks less room to work than a malt does.
Brand & Industry History
Cedar Ridge Distillery established itself as the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition. For whiskey enthusiasts outside the state, the brand’s identity is primarily defined by its QuintEssential single malts, which function as a laboratory for experimentation. This line draws from up to 20 different finishing casks and includes special releases that stack port, sherry, Madeira, and Tokaji on top of each other. The bourbon category has been catching up with Anniversary Editions featuring wine-cask finishes, but this release bridges the gap between the two categories.
What This Means
This release signifies a strategic expansion of the distillery’s cask experimentation into the bourbon market. By adapting a specific single malt recipe for bourbon, the distillery offers a lower-cost alternative to its premium single malt offerings. The move allows consumers to access Quint’s cask experiments at a price point well under the roughly $100 usually associated with single malt special releases.
Consumer Takeaway
Portside II is available in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, South Dakota, California, and Florida, with direct shipping to 45 states. The limited release small-batch bourbon offers a unique opportunity to experience the distillery’s signature cask finishing techniques applied to a corn-forward spirit.
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