When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic
beverages in 1920, many enterprising residents of a small town in
Iowa chose to become outlaws - producing a high caliber and much
sought-after whiskey known as Templeton Rye.
Based on its extremely smooth finish, the American rye whiskey
earned the nickname of "The Good Stuff" and quickly brought a
certain degree of fame to the doorsteps of Templeton (pop. 350). As
the premium brand of the era, Templeton Rye fetched an impressive
$5.50 per gallon - or approximately $70 by today's standards.
Over the course of its storied history, Templeton Rye became Al
Capone's whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center
of his bootlegging empire. Hundreds of kegs per month were supplied
to Capone's gang who in turn filled the demand of speakeasies
throughout Chicago, New York and as far west as San Francisco.
Capone was eventually convicted on charges of tax evasion and
sent to prison. Later legends suggest that a few bottles even found
their way inside the walls of Alcatraz to the cell of prisoner
AZ-85.
Although most American whiskeys ceased production after
prohibition ended, Templeton Rye continued to be produced illegally
in small quantities for loyal patrons. More than eighty-five years
later, the infamous small batch rye whiskey finally returned - made
available legally for the first time ever in 2006.
http://www.templetonrye.com/