Mississippi River Distilling Company Cody Road Rye 750ML

Mississippi River Distilling Company Cody Road Rye 750ML is a 100% rye whiskey bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof), distilled grain-to-glass in LeClaire, Iowa. Scored 88/100 by Wine Enthusiast and awarded a Bronze Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this small-batch rye stands out for its unexpectedly fruit-forward character balanced by classic rye spice.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 Proof)  |  Origin: LeClaire, Iowa, USA  |  Aged 1 Year in 30-Gallon American Oak  |  Distillery: Mississippi River Distilling Company

Production & Heritage

Mississippi River Distilling Company operates out of LeClaire, Iowa, on the banks of the Mississippi River. The distillery takes a true grain-to-glass approach, sourcing 100% of its rye grain from Dave and Jim Wherry's farm in Fulton, Illinois — within 25 miles of the distillery. Cody Road Rye is distilled in a handmade 1,000-liter Kothe German copper pot still, then aged for one year in 30-gallon American oak casks. These smaller barrels — roughly half the size of standard 53-gallon bourbon barrels — accelerate the interaction between spirit and wood, imparting oak influence at a faster rate and contributing to a distinctive flavor profile for such a young whiskey. The expression has also earned certification as a Craft Distilled Spirit from the ADI (American Distillers Institute) International Spirits Competition.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with apricot and wildflowers, then gives way to Honeycrisp apple and fresh pear. A subtle thread of black pepper hides beneath the sweeter, more floral top notes.

Taste: The entry is surprisingly fruit-forward for a rye — ripe pear and apricot dominate early — before fresh-cut grass and a champagne-like effervescence emerge on the mid-palate. A brisk menthol note arrives at the center, bridging the fruit into classic rye spice. Ginger, lemon cream, and cinnamon build through the peak.

Finish: Medium in length, the finish turns drier as oak and cracked black pepper tingle across the back of the mouth. A lingering sweet spiciness holds on, creating a satisfying push-pull between rye's signature bite and the whiskey's fruitier personality.

How to Drink Cody Road Rye

Neat or with a single ice cube is the best way to appreciate the interplay between fruit and spice. A few drops of water open the floral aromatics further without muting the pepper. For cocktails, Cody Road Rye works well in these three classics:

• Sazerac — The fruit-forward rye character rounds out the absinthe rinse and Peychaud's bitters without losing its backbone.
• Whiskey Sour — Bright pear and apricot notes complement fresh citrus, making a livelier, more aromatic sour.
• Old Fashioned — The ginger and cinnamon spice in the finish pairs naturally with orange peel and bitters, keeping the drink balanced rather than heavy.

Best For

• Introducing a rye-curious drinker to the category with a fruit-forward, approachable expression
• Supporting local and farm-to-bottle American craft distilling
• Adding a Midwestern rye option to a home whiskey collection
• Gifting someone who appreciates small-batch, transparent sourcing stories

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Cody Road Rye taste like? Cody Road Rye leads with unexpected fruit — pear, apricot, and Honeycrisp apple — before transitioning into ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper spice. The finish is medium-length with dry oak and a lingering peppery tingle.

How does Cody Road Rye compare to Templeton Rye? Both are Iowa-produced rye whiskeys, but Cody Road is distilled entirely on-site from 100% locally sourced rye grain and aged in smaller 30-gallon casks, while Templeton Rye has historically sourced its whiskey from MGP in Indiana (though it has moved toward in-house distillation). Cody Road tends to be fruitier and lighter-bodied, whereas Templeton leans into bolder caramel and baking-spice notes.

Is Cody Road Rye good for sipping neat? Yes — at 80 proof it is approachable enough for neat sipping, and the fruit-to-spice progression rewards slow, deliberate tasting without overwhelming heat.

Where is Cody Road Rye made? Cody Road Rye is distilled, aged, and bottled at Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire, Iowa, using rye grain sourced from a farm in Fulton, Illinois, roughly 25 miles from the distillery.

What foods pair well with Cody Road Rye? Smoked pork shoulder benefits from the whiskey's peppery finish. Apple-based desserts like tarte Tatin echo the fruit notes on the nose. Sharp aged cheddar matches the oak and spice on the palate. Ginger-glazed salmon mirrors the mid-palate ginger note. Dark chocolate with sea salt brings out the cinnamon and lemon cream undertones.

What sizes does Cody Road Rye come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.

Is Cody Road Rye worth the price? Cody Road Rye positions as a craft-tier American rye, and its pricing reflects the small-batch, grain-to-glass production and locally sourced ingredients. For drinkers who value provenance and transparent production over age statements, it delivers genuine character and an 88-point Wine Enthusiast score at its price tier.

Why Cody Road Rye?

What separates Cody Road Rye from dozens of craft rye whiskeys is full vertical control — the distillery handles every step from sourcing grain within 25 miles to distilling in a single German copper pot still to aging in half-size American oak barrels. That 30-gallon barrel size is not a gimmick; it produces a genuinely different flavor arc, pushing oak and spice forward in a one-year-old whiskey that drinks older than its age suggests. The 88-point Wine Enthusiast score and Bronze Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition validate that the approach works. For anyone seeking a rye with real Midwestern provenance and a fruit-forward twist on the category, Cody Road delivers something most mass-produced ryes cannot claim: total transparency from field to bottle.