Templeton Rye has always been a brand that divides opinion. The Iowa-based label has had its share of controversy over sourcing transparency, but I'll say this — what's in the bottle now is genuinely interesting, and this Tequila Cask finish is one of the more compelling experiments I've seen from them. At 46% ABV and carrying a price tag of £54.50, it sits in that middle ground where it needs to justify itself, and I think it mostly does.
The Concept
Let's talk about what's actually going on here. This is an American straight rye whiskey that's been finished in tequila casks. That's a combination that makes more sense than you might initially think. Rye whiskey already brings herbal, peppery, slightly grassy character to the table. Tequila barrels — assuming we're talking about barrels that previously held a decent reposado or añejo — contribute agave sweetness, a certain earthiness, and sometimes a subtle vegetal quality. The two spirits share more DNA than most people realise.
The 46% bottling strength is a smart choice. It's enough to carry the complexity of dual-maturation without tipping into hot territory. I appreciate that they didn't water this down to 40% and call it a day. That extra six percent makes a real difference in how the cask influence comes through.
Tasting Notes
I won't pretend to break this down into clinical tasting categories where I don't have detailed notes to hand. What I can tell you is that with a rye base and tequila cask finishing, you should expect the classic rye spice backbone — think black pepper, baking spice, maybe some dill — layered with whatever the tequila wood has contributed. The interplay between grain-forward American whiskey and agave-influenced oak is the whole point here, and at this proof, those flavours should have room to breathe.
The Verdict
At £54.50, this isn't an impulse buy, but it's not unreasonable either. Finished rye whiskeys from craft-adjacent brands often creep north of £60, so Templeton has priced this competitively. The NAS designation means we don't know exactly how old the base spirit is, which is always a slight mark against transparency, but the proof and the concept are sound.
What I genuinely like about this release is that it feels purposeful rather than gimmicky. Too many cask finishes exist because a marketing team thought the label would look good. A tequila cask finish on rye whiskey actually has a flavour logic behind it — the spice of rye meeting the earthy sweetness of agave wood. It's a 7.5 out of 10 from me. Not a world-beater, but a whiskey that knows what it's trying to be and largely gets there. If you're the kind of drinker who enjoys exploring how different cask types reshape a spirit's character, this belongs on your radar.
Best Served
This is a natural fit for a rye-based cocktail where you want an extra dimension. Make a Manhattan with this — two parts Templeton Tequila Cask, one part sweet vermouth, two dashes of Angostura — and that agave-influenced oak plays beautifully against the vermouth's botanicals. If you prefer it neat, give it ten minutes in the glass. Finished whiskeys like this tend to open up considerably with a bit of air, and at 46% you won't lose the structure by letting it sit. A single drop of water wouldn't hurt either, especially if you want to pull the cask influence forward.
