Swisher, Iowa-based Cedar Ridge Distillery, under the direction of master blender Murphy Quint, has released the third in a series of limited-edition expressions of its award-winning American single malt—The QuintEssential: The Untitled Cigar Malt Project.
According to Quint, “The vision for this release was a whiskey evoking the rich experience of a cigar. It features bold notes of tobacco, a subtle hint of smoke, a balanced character and a lengthy finish.” The release is a blend of single malts first aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in Cedar Ridge V (a Madeira-inspired dessert wine), first fill Amontillado sherry, new French oak, new American oak (Char No. 3), and peated malt finished in ruby port.
“While each cask plays an important role in the blend, the peated malt delivers an important feature,” added Quint. “Its smoky influence, though subtle due to being blended with non-peated single malts, lingers long on the finish, a transition that emerges after the initial notes of sherry and Madeira have faded. This was a key element to the project, achieving a finish that lingers pleasantly, much like the subtle hint of smoke you might experience long after savoring a cigar. This is a whiskey I’ve envisioned for a long time, and I thoroughly enjoyed putting it together.”
The QuintEssential Untitled Cigar Malt Project follows The QuintEssential Pete & Sherri and The QuintEssential Portside. All of the QuintEssential releases have been well-received by enthusiasts and professionals alike medaling in the World Whiskey Awards, The Ascot Awards and The Barleycorn Awards. The QuintEssential Portside scored 97 points from The Wine Enthusiast.
The QuintEssential Special Release: The Untitled Cigar Malt Project is bottled at 57.45% abv with an SRP of $99.99. Learn more here.