The end of prohibition was celebrated by over 50 people yesterday (Wednesday) in Templeton at the headquarters for Templeton Rye. Templeton Rye Whiskey became a popular drink at speakeasies during prohibition, and was revived in 2003. During the celebration on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition, the one millionth bottle was labeled by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. The governor complimented co-founders Keith Kerkhoff and Scott Bush and the entire Carroll County community for Templeton Rye’s success.
The granddaughter of Al Capone has been used to promote the prohibition era whiskey, and Branstad says the Templeton site has the potential to become are real tourist attraction for Iowa.
The bottle the governor labeled was put into a box with others and will be shipped off to the state liquor warehouse for distribution. The person who eventually buys the bottle will win a prize based on the code on the bottle’s special label. Co-founder Scott Bush says they debated for a while on what to do with the bottle. He says they finally decided to let someone in Iowa end up buying it.
They also announced the first code number as the number five. One number will be announced each week. The entire sequence of numbers will be announced on January 17th, on what will be 115 years to the day when Al Capone was born. The person who finds the bottle will receive a tour and tasting at the headquarters in Templeton.
