Templeton Rye originally referred to rye whiskey made in Templeton, Iowa during the prohibition era as a way for farmers in the Carroll County area to supplement their income. Amber in color, it was considered to be of particularly high quality and was popular in Chicago, Omaha, and Kansas City speakeasies. It was said to be the mobster Al Capone's drink of choice. More recently, "Templeton Rye" has become used as a brand name for whiskey that its producer formerly claimed was based on a prohibition-era recipe. Distribution of the recent branded product outside of Iowa began in August 2007.