Scott Bush is an everyday guy with a career that most could only dream of but after all it is in his blood. Scott’s Great-Grandfather was the brew doctor behind Templeton Rye a potent blend of whiskey that kept his family and a town alive during the great depression. As prohibition came to an end, many bootleggers left the game and moved on, the gentlemen at Templeton didn’t, they couldn’t, the stuff was that good. It wasn’t until 2006 that the Rye was produced legally, thanks to Scott’s return.
Behind every great whiskey is a man… we think that’s how it goes? In any case, Scott Bush was nice enough to sit down and answer a few questions for us, to better learn not only about “the Good Stuff” but the Midwestern Gentleman who brought it back to life.
Scott, what did growing up in the Midwest mean to you and how did it shape you into the man you are today?
I certainly had a Midwest upbringing. I grew up in Wall Lake, Iowa, a town of 800 people and part of a very large family. I played four sports all through high school, showed cattle, and delivered the Des Moines Register paper. When I think of what defines the Midwest to me it is good people trying hard to contribute to their community. I was surrounding by this for most of my life and certainly hope I continue that tradition.
What made you want to go into distilling?
After graduating from the University of Iowa, I went to work for JP Morgan Chase in Chicago and New York. When I would come home for the holidays, my brothers, cousins and I would drive around our hometown and always stop in to see our grandparents, aunts & uncles, etc. My great uncle Gus Schroeder has a great bar in his basement and we would head down there for a “cocktail”. Gus always had a bottle of the bootleg Templeton Rye and would start telling the stories of his dad (my great grandfather) Frank Schroeder making Templeton Rye. We were all enthralled by the old family stories and what life was like back during Prohibition and the Great Depression. I have always been into history and always wanted to do something entrepreneurial. Everything kind of came together with Templeton Rye.
What makes Templeton Rye Whiskey different from anything else on the shelf?
Great Balance. Templeton has huge rye character that is unmistakable on the pallet. The thing we hear most often when folks try Templeton is “Wow, that is really smooth.” That is the balance you find in a great whiskey.
What does the history of Templeton Rye mean to you?
It means a lot obviously because of my family connections to the product. My great grandfather was turned down trying to get a $15 loan. Fifteen dollars! Had it not been for Templeton Rye he certainly would have lost the farm. The history of Templeton encompasses so much – entrepreneurism, the Great Depression, family tradition, American ingenuity, the allure of the Capone association, the Noble Experiment. It really goes on and on.
How do you personally define a successful batch of whiskey?
Obviously we have a flavor profile that we strive to meet. We taste each batch at all stages of the process to ensure it deserves to be called the “Good Stuff”.
For someone who has never enjoyed a glass of Templeton Rye, can you sum up that first sip in one word?
Uptown. That is an old time word some of our bottlers use that means special or fancy.
Describe a day in the office for you.
If I am in Templeton it is pretty intense. We are always managing the various moving parts of our business, meeting with suppliers, reporters, etc and hopefully coming up with good new ideas on occasion. I no longer go to Templeton every day and actually work out of my home. We have three kids ages 6, 4 and 2 and I spend a lot of time with them. It is not unusual for me to show up to a meeting with one of them in tow and my work breaks include playing catch, jumping on the trampoline or playing Go Fish.
What is your favorite drink that includes Templeton Rye? What is in it?
My favorite is Templeton neat with a beer chaser but if I am doing cocktails I like the classics, especially the Manhattan and Old Fashioned.
The Manhattan:
2 oz. Templeton Rye
3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters
Old Fashioned:
2 oz. Templeton Rye
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp. Demerara suger
Simple syrup
Orange and cherry mash
What is your favorite drinking song?
“Templeton Rye” by the Nadas of course. A great band from here in Iowa.
What makes the Midwest a great place to open a business or a distillery?
We have been blessed with the local talent in Templeton, which is a town of only 350 people. Our bottling staff as well as the trade people in town have been great.
What does the future hold for Templeton Rye Distillery?
We expanded into New York and San Francisco last year and are planning to stick where we are for a couple of years – Iowa, Illinois, New York and San Francisco. This is a much different approach than most spirits brands but we want to get these markets truly established before moving to any more. Eventually we would obviously like to be a well know national and even international brand but we are not in any huge hurry to get there.
Finally we asked Scott the age old question, “when you hear the term ‘Midwestern Gentleman,’ what comes to mind?” Scott’s answer was one that is expected from a whiskey distiller from Iowa, it was straight to the point.
“I think of a Gentleman in the classic sense but lacking pretension.”
- Scott Bush
Cheers…
