Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon (Batch 005) Review

Distillery: Cedar Ridge Distillery – Swisher, Iowa

Proof: 105.0 (52.5.0% ABV)

Age: Three Years + Undisclosed Secondary Finishing

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

MSRP: $60

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Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Batch 005 Shows Real Progress

Cedar Ridge’s Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon continues the distillery’s exploration with secondary maturation of a distinctly malt-forward bourbon mashbill.  

For readers familiar with Batch 004, Batch 005 reflects a clear step forward.  Where the previous release leaned more heavily into early sweetness, this release allows the malted rye and malted barley to better shape the bourbon.  Bottled at 105 proof, this one leans toward control rather than brute force.

Let’s see how Batch 005 performs in the glass.

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon (Batch 005) Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 4.2/5

Tart green apple.  Dark caramel.  Soft baking spice.  Fresh oak.

Strengths:  The Nose opens with a tart green apple note that keeps sweetness in check.  The “dark” caramel adds some depth to the Nose without drifting into dessert territory.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Well-defined but the range is fairly narrow.  Some additional depth of spice or fruit layer would increase the complexity.
Rating Justification:  A composed, grain-forward Nose.  Sets up the Palate more than it tries to impress on its own.

Palate – 4.2/5

Sweet maple.  Green tea.  Toasted grain.  Gentle rye warmth.

Strengths:  The Palate shows the clearest improvement over Batch 004.  A maple sweetness arrives with a quiet intensity that very quickly gives way to a green-tea-like dryness.  Malted rye and malted barley contribute a slightly bready mid-Palate.
Why It’s Not Higher:  The transition from sweetness to dryness still happens fairly quickly.  A longer, more layered mid-Palate would elevate its complexity and create a more memorable pour.
Rating Justification:  Better balance than the prior batch.  Malted rye lends sweet notes rather than spice.

Finish – 4.2/5

Oak.  Maple sweetness.  Warm baking spice.

Strengths:  The Finish lingers longer than Batch 004.  Oak shows up without tipping into bitterness.  Warm baking spice builds gradually rather than a sharp spike.
Why It’s Not Higher:  Clearer fruit or spice would add memorability.
Rating Justification:  A confident Finish.

Value – 4.0/5

At $60, Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon Batch 005 benefits from significant refinement over its earlier 004 release.  The malt-forward mashbill, pot-still distillation, and double oak maturation make for a distinctive identity in a crowded market.  While it doesn’t chase intensity, the balance between the Nose and Palate along with the high-quality Finish justifies the price for enthusiasts.

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon (Batch 005) Review: The Verdict

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon Batch 005 shows clear progress from Batch 004.  The Palate is more defined, the Finish deliberate, and the overall feels more “organized” and less disjointed.

This is a grain-forward, structured bourbon that leans on refinement rather than reinvention.  And it shows that Cedar Ridge’s double-barrel program is moving in the right direction. Shop now.

Verdict – 4.2/5

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