American

Whiskey Review: Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Portside

We review Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Portside, an American single malt out of Iowa that's finished in First Fill Ruby Port, First Fill Amontillado Sherry, and Virgin French Casks.

OVERALL RATING

10
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The QuintEssential Portside review

Tasting Notes

About:

American single malt created from 100% 2-Row Pale malted barley distilled entirely at Cedar Ridge. It is aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels and finished in First Fill Ruby Port, First Fill Amontillado Sherry and Virgin French Casks. It is bottled at 117.2 proof and priced at $99.99.
Appearance:
The multi-cask influence is highly evident in the lucious golden amber color in glass, hosting as well nicely strucuted legs and moderate viscoscity.
Nose:
The aromatics of this American single malt are vibrant and fruit-forward, showcasing gorgeous notes of deep cherry, a hint of cigar smoke, warmed almonds, marzipan, raspberry cobbler, and some mild oak.
Palate:
Wow. That rocks the house. The palate on this is multi-dimensional, strangely kicking off with peanut butter, bringing along with it silky chocolate, deep vanilla, dark cherry pie filling, warm apple, a hit of oak, and, on the backsplash, a kiss of pepper.
Finish:
This finishes warm and beautiful, like a gentle kiss on a summer night, fading off like something you’re afraid you might never experience again.
Comments:
Cedar Ridge has consistently produced impressive whiskeys, and this one continues the tradition but is a step up even more. The multi-cask finish steals the show—get a bottle or three, trust me.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Nino Kilgore-Marchetti

Nino Kilgore-Marchetti is the founder of The Whiskey Wash, an award-winning whiskey lifestyle website dedicated to informing and entertaining consumers about whisk(e)y globally. As a whisk(e)y journalist, expert, and judge, he has written extensively about the subject, been interviewed in various media outlets, and provided tasting input on many whiskeys at competitions.

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