Review: Cedar Ridge Quintessential Pete & Sherri Married 2nd Anniversary
Out of Iowa’s Cedar Ridge comes another edition of “Pete & Sherri Married,” a single malt blend meant to capture the best of the distillery’s peated and sherried liquid streams. The series initially launched in 2019 and returned later with a 1st Anniversary bottling. This latest 2026 version is titled “2nd Anniversary,” a 114.4 proof blend of two main components:
Single malt made from 2-row pale malted barley, initially aged in Cedar Ridge’s ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in Pedro Ximénez & Oloroso sherry hogsheads
Peated malt aged in Cedar Ridge’s ex-bourbon barrels, then finished in Amontillado sherry butts
The two liquid streams are between 6 and 9 years old. This is one of Cedar Ridge’s more limited bottlings, and it’s available in limited distribution in Iowa and online. At $99.99, it’s also the most expensive bottle in the distillery’s whiskey portfolio.
Let’s see how it tastes!
Cedar Ridge Quintessential Pete & Sherri Married 2nd Anniversary Review
The nose kicks off with loads of nutty sherry influence, which dominate aromas for the first few sniffs. A variety of savory components waltz in after: miso broth, celery salt, and aged parmesan cheese. That mix of umami scents finally leads into the peat. It’s the sweetest section of the nose, lending both dessert wine and chargrilled fruit to a nose that benefits from the 11th hour balance.
Frankly, the nose threw me for a loop (or two). But all seems right on the first sip, which brings waves of preserved fruit, grape jelly, and both apricot and raspberry jam. It’s a markedly sweet turn from the nose, and while savory notes make an appearance, they’re relegated to the edge of the palate, like the final taste of sugar-glazed burnt ends. Peat meets more cooked fruit at the midpalate, specifically cherries and peaches, along with smoked maple syrup.
The finish is big on dried strawberries and cacao, culminating in a bold, lingering, and dry sweetness that showcases those first-fill Amontillado casks.
At the outset, Pete & Sherri Married 2nd Anniversary was a bit challenging to parse. Eventually, drinkers are rewarded with a complex palate and rich finish with intensity rare among American single malts. Ultimately, I’m glad I gave it the time.
114.4 proof.
A- / $100
The post Review: Cedar Ridge Quintessential Pete & Sherri Married 2nd Anniversary appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.