Templeton Hidden Stash Collection 13-Year Rye
The Stats
- Brand: Templeton
- Location: Templeton, Iowa
- Type: Straight Rye Whiskey
- Collection: Hidden Stash Collection No. 1
- Proof: 108 Proof
- Age: 13 Years
- Mash Bill: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley
- Distilled: Indiana
- Release: Limited Release, 2025
- MSRP: $170
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Thirteen years can do strange things to rye whiskey. It can soften the sharper edges, deepen the oak, and pull out flavors that simply do not exist in younger bottles. It can also bury everything that made the whiskey interesting in the first place. Rye already brings plenty of personality to the barrel, and more time does not automatically mean more balance.
Templeton 13 Year lands in the middle of that tension. This is not a sweet, easygoing rye built to win over bourbon drinkers. It stays firmly rooted in mint, spice, citrus, and earthier barrel notes, with each sip shifting the emphasis just enough to keep the glass interesting.
There is real maturity here, but not the heavy oak or oversized proof that often comes with an older release. Instead, Templeton delivers a quieter kind of complexity. The whiskey is very good. The harder question is whether very good is enough when the bottle costs around $170.
The Whiskey Behind the Bottle
Templeton Distillery has built its identity around rye whiskey and the Prohibition-era history of Templeton, Iowa. The brand draws heavily from the town’s bootlegging past, when locally made rye became part of the community’s reputation.
Templeton 13 Year is the first release in the distillery’s Hidden Stash Collection, a series created to showcase rare, older, and more limited whiskeys. The name and presentation lean into that history, with vintage-inspired artwork, gold foil details, a story card, and a large green display box designed to make the bottle feel like something recently uncovered.
The whiskey itself is a 13-year-old straight rye bottled at 108 proof. It was distilled in Indiana from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, making it a sourced release rather than whiskey produced at Templeton’s Iowa distillery.
That is not unusual for the brand. Templeton has long worked with Indiana-distilled rye while gradually building its own distilling operation in Iowa. The Hidden Stash Collection gives the company an opportunity to highlight older stocks that fall outside its core lineup, beginning with a whiskey carrying a much larger age statement than most of Templeton’s regular releases.
At approximately $170, this is clearly positioned as a premium and special-occasion bottle. The age, limited nature, and elaborate presentation all contribute to that positioning. The real test, of course, is whether the whiskey inside feels equally special.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Peppermint, spearmint, vanilla, honey, orange peel, and baking spices lead the way. As it opens, darker notes of chocolate, leather, and light oak begin to emerge beneath the brighter mint and citrus.
Taste
Cinnamon, orange marmalade, cherry, dark chocolate, toasted oak, and black pepper arrive with a smooth, slightly oily mouthfeel. Mint and a light dill note keep the whiskey firmly rye-forward, while the fruit, spice, and oak seem to shift in prominence with each sip.
Finish
The finish is clean and minty, with cinnamon, dark chocolate, pepper, and light oak. It is pleasant but more restrained than expected for a 13-year-old whiskey at 108 proof, leaving us wanting a little more warmth and length.
Artfully Bourbon Rating
8 / 10 - very good
Templeton 13 Year delivers the maturity we hoped for without losing its rye character.
The age brings toasted oak, leather, dark chocolate, and earthiness, while the 95% rye mash bill keeps mint, pepper, citrus, and dill firmly in the glass. It is layered, balanced, and mature without becoming over-oaked.
Most importantly, it still tastes like rye—not a sweeter, bourbon-friendly version of one.
Both of us landed at an 8. It is delicious and well put together, but the restrained finish keeps it from reaching the next level. A little more warmth, length, or proof may have pushed it into exceptional territory.
Buy or Skip:
Skip
A good score does not always lead to a buy recommendation. Templeton 13 Year is mature, complex, and genuinely enjoyable. But at approximately $170, it enters a price range where very good whiskey competes with exceptional bottles.
The age statement, rarity, and premium presentation all add to the experience, but they do not fully justify the cost for us. Dedicated rye drinkers may feel differently, especially those who enjoy older, rye-forward whiskey or want a special bottle to share.
We are glad to have tried it and will enjoy finishing it, but we would not immediately replace it. At closer to $120 or $130, the recommendation would be much easier.
Templeton 13 Year is an excellent example of how well rye can age. It is simply priced like an unforgettable one.
Where Does It Rank?
Every whiskey we review is scored using the same 10-point scale, making it easy to compare bottles across styles, distilleries, and price points. Explore our complete whiskey rankings to see how every bottle stacks up.
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Some mash bills don’t just make bourbon—they define it. The Standard pays homage to the quintessential Kentucky recipe that’s been setting the bar for generations. With its corn-forward sweetness, rye spice, and a touch of malted barley, it’s the blueprint most distillers measure themselves against.
Made from ultra-soft, ring-spun cotton with a classic unisex fit, this shirt is the dependable daily sipper of your wardrobe: always right, never fussy, and built to last. Perfect for bottle shares, distillery tours, or any day you want to rep bourbon’s backbone.
Product Features
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Soft, breathable 100% combed ring-spun cotton
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Ribbed knit collar for shape retention
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Side seams and shoulder taping for durability and structure
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Unisex fit, perfect for everyday wear
Care Instructions
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Machine wash cold (max 30C / 90F)
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Tumble dry low or hang dry
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Do not bleach
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Iron on low heat if needed
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Do not dry clean
