Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon Review

Distillery: Cedar Ridge Distillery—Swisher, IA

Proof: 105.0 (52.5% ABV)

Age: Undisclosed

Mashbill: 74% Corn, 14% Malted Barley, 12% 2-Rew Malted Barley

MSRP: $65

---

Same Corn-Country Roots  — Second Maturation

When Shoeless Joe Jackson steps onto Ray Kinsella’s mystical ballfield in Field of Dreams, he gazes at the rows of corn and asks, “Is this heaven?”  Ray answers, “It’s Iowa.”  The exchange isn’t really about baseball—it’s about a sense of place and the power of belonging.  

Cedar Ridge Distillery, tucked among those Iowa cornfields near Swisher, embodies the sense of place. Founded in 2005 as Iowa’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition, the family-run operation has built a reputation on grain-to-glass craftsmanship, sourcing Dent No. 2 corn from neighboring farms and controlling every step—from milling to bottling—on their site.

They have become a quiet powerhouse in America’s craft whiskey scene.  Over two decades the venture has grown from local curiosity to a national contender, collecting competition gold medals while steadily expanding distribution across the United States.  Their rickhouses endure scorching Midwest summers and sub-zero winters, a swing that amplifies the Iowa corn whiskey and yields their signature creamy sweetness.  Among their most heralded expressions are a line of secondary maturation releases that amplifies flavor.

This Double Barrel expression begins as the flagship bourbon, then undertakes a second maturation in a fresh #3-char cask.  The extra time draws deeper into the caramelized and vanilla notes. For drinkers who first met Cedar Ridge through its Port Cask Finish Bourbon, consider this a parallel path: where Port layers fruit and wine-soaked oak, Double Barrel leans into the new-oak.

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon Review: Tasting Notes

Nose – 3.8/5

Opening notes of toasted pecan brittle and vanilla-bean with hints of sweet orange peel.  Brown sugar and faint bubble-gum notes—classic Cedar Ridge—add a bit of playful lift to the Nose.

Palate – 4.2/5

First sip lands sweet:  think gooey pecan pie.  Mid-Palate spice arrives in waves of clove and black pepper, balanced by cocoa notes.  Some dry oak notes round out the Palate as the mouthfeel is silky, full and covering.

Finish – 3.9/5

The finish is medium-long, rolling from dark-chocolate into a warming baking-spice medley before finally settling into leathery tannin that doesn’t quite tip into bitterness.

Value – 3.8/5

At roughly $65, Double Barrel competes with well-known “double-oaked” bourbons yet distinguishes itself with a Midwestern corn sweetness.  The second maturation supplies genuine depth for the price, though the drying finish keeps it just below a standout.

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Bourbon Review: The Verdict

Cedar Ridge Double Barrel demonstrates how extra aging can elevate—not over oak—a high-corn mash bill.  Rich pastry sweetness, lively spice, and the fresh char play well in delivering a pour that feels refined.  It may not reach the layered refinement of some other double-oak expressions, but it offers an engaging craft whiskey expression—and a persuasive nudge for enthusiasts to look into what Iowa has to offer. Shop here.

Verdict – 3.9/5

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