SWISHER, Iowa — Twenty-one years ago, Jeff and Laurie Quint imagined a peaceful retirement in an Iowa vineyard. What they built instead became Cedar Ridge Distillery — Iowa’s first licensed distillery since Prohibition — and a nationally recognized name in whiskey.
The Quints’ journey began in 2003, when they discovered new grape varieties could thrive in Iowa’s climate. They purchased land between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, planting 5,000 vines by 2005. But soon, their focus expanded from wine to spirits.
Iowa grows more corn than any state in the country,” Jeff said. “Yet before Cedar Ridge, we were importing all the bourbon we drank. I thought — why not make it here?…