Some anniversaries call for flowers. Others call for dinner reservations and a heartfelt card.

And then there are the anniversaries that call for a 116.8-proof celebration in a bottle.

Cedar Ridge Distillery is raising a glass … and quite possibly a few eyebrows … with the release of its latest limited-edition whiskey, Pete & Sherri Married — 2nd Anniversary Edition, arriving May 1st.

Now, before you start wondering whether Pete and Sherri are actual people with impeccable taste in whiskey and excellent timing, this is the newest installment in Cedar Ridge’s much-loved QuintEssential Special Release series, crafted by Master Blender Murphy Quint. And judging by the buzz surrounding previous releases, this marriage seems to be one made in whiskey heaven.

This bottle is the third chapter in the Pete & Sherri saga, and like any good sequel, it promises more complexity, more intrigue, and just enough smoke to keep things interesting.

The expression blends 6- to 9-year-old American single malts, bottled at natural cask strength with no chill filtration and no color added … because apparently this whiskey prefers to show up exactly as it is. Respect.

The blend itself is where things get especially interesting. One side of the marriage starts with 2-row pale malted barley, aged in Cedar Ridge ex-bourbon barrels before taking a luxurious detour through Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry hogsheads. The other brings the drama with peated malt, also bourbon-barrel aged, then finished in Amontillado sherry butts.

In other words, this is less “simple pour” and more “long, fascinating conversation that somehow turns into midnight.”

Murphy Quint clearly had some fun with this one.

“This year I’ve added a fun twist,” Quint said, noting the expanded use of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso casks alongside the Amontillado finish, creating a richer, more layered profile while staying true to the spirit of the series.

And frankly, layered is the perfect word here.

Expect warm sherry sweetness, rich dried fruit notes, a touch of smoke, and the kind of depth that makes you pause mid-sip and say, “Well, now that’s interesting.”

The original 1st Anniversary release already set the bar impressively high, having been named Best American Single Malt by the World Whiskies Awards. So yes, this second anniversary comes with a bit of pressure … but Cedar Ridge seems more than ready for the encore.

At $99.99, this limited release feels like the kind of bottle you bring out for a special occasion … or for a Tuesday that desperately needs to become one.

Founded by Jeff and Laurie Quint and now celebrating its 20th anniversary, Cedar Ridge has long been one of the Midwest’s most quietly impressive distilleries. As Iowa’s first and oldest distillery, they’ve built a reputation for letting the grain … and the craftsmanship … do the talking.

And with this release, it’s saying quite a lot.

Pete and Sherri may be fictional, but this whiskey romance is very real.

Cheers to love, smoke, sherry, and second anniversaries done right.