Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond (Batch 007) Bourbon Review

Distillery: Cedar Ridge Distillery – Swisher, Iowa

Proof: 100.0 (50.0% ABV)

Age: Four Years

Mashbill: 74% Corn, 14% Malted Rye, 12% Malted Barley

MSRP: $45

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When Consistency Matters More Than Intensity

Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon falls into the lane of whiskey’s most defined frameworks.  Distilled and aged in Swisher, Iowa, this bottle adheres to the Bottled-in-Bond standard of one distillery, one season, a minimum of four years of aging, and bottled at 100 proof.  For a craft distillery, those constraints can remove many of the tools a Distiller uses to shape their final product.  There is no blending to smooth inconsistencies and no elevated proof to push intensity.  Instead, it’s the Distiller’s fine art in the bottle.

Cedar Ridge’s use of malted rye and a higher percentage of malted barley seems as an intentional move toward flavor integration and composure rather than sharp spice or an aggressive contrast of flavors.  This bourbon seems built to showcase how well Cedar Ridge can keep everything in line from Nose to Finish without leaning on higher proof or blending.

At $45, it also positions the bottle not as a premium, but as accessible to most any level of consumer. The question then becomes less about how bold it is, and more about how well it holds together from Nose to Finish for both enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike.

Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond (Batch 007) Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.1/5

Light caramel.  Fresh corn.  Toasted malt.  Baked bread.
Strengths:  Notes are clear and easy to separate.  The profile leans fresh rather than dense, making it approachable across a wide range of enthusiasts and casual drinkers.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Core notes carry all the way through the Nose.
Rating Justification:  Well-defined.  Ultimately limited by a lack of complexity.

Palate – 4.1/5

Caramel sweetness.  Honey.  Soft spice.  Malted grain. Mild oak.
Strengths:  Everything in the sip shows up together and works together.  Nothing sticks out, nothing feels out of place, and nothing interrupts the flow.
Why It’s Not Higher:  While the sip is sound, it lacks a standout moment that anchors the experience. 
Rating Justification:  Well-built.  Prioritizes a smooth sip experience over intensity or distinction.

Finish – 3.7/5

Light oak.  Gentle spice.  Fading caramel.  Soft grain sweetness.
Strengths:  Clean exit.  Flavors resolve without bitterness or imbalance.  Consistent with the rest of the drinking experience.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Tapers quickly and disappears sooner than expected which limits its overall impact.
Rating Justification:  Technically sound and clean.  Too brief to elevate the overall sipping experience.

Value – 4.2/5

Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon sits in a competitive range.  But it brings a combination that is not easy to find at this price point:  grain-to-glass production, a Bottled-in-Bond designation, and a mashbill built around control rather than intensity.

This is not a bourbon that competes on boldness or depth.  Instead, it delivers a consistent, easy-drinking experience that avoids common flaws often seen in this price range.  There are no rough edges, no imbalance, and nothing that feels out of place.  That alone gives it an advantage over many bottles in this range that may push intensity but lose control along the way.

Cedar Ridge Bottled-in-Bond (Batch 007) Bourbon Review: The Verdict

This bottle does exactly what it sets out to do by keeping the Nose to Finish in line with each other, avoiding sharp edges, and delivering a smooth, consistent sipping experience.

What it doesn’t do is push beyond consistency and into something more distinctive.  There is no single moment that pulls your attention back to the glass or makes you stop to reconsider what you’re tasting.

Balance defines the experience.  It is reliable, well-built, and easy to enjoy.

Verdict – 4.0/5

We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.

Scoring System:

• Platinum – 4.5 – 5
• Gold – 4 – 4.5
• Silver – 3 – 4
• Bronze – <3