Preference Poll - Wheat or Rye?

Just thought I'd get a feel for the groups preference. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...onstration.gif

Do you prefer a wheated bourbon or ryed bourbon? http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...ankyousign.gif

I believe I can speak for many here when I say that wheat or rye depends on the mood and/or situation. There are some days where the sweetness of the wheat is perfect and others where I feel the need for a jolt of spice. I answered wheat because my sweet tooth made me.

I like the spiciness of the rye bourbons. Makers Mark, for example has no body and weak taste for me. The exception is the Van Winkle bourbons. They are wheaters, but they have the spiciness that the rye bourbons have.

Is this a bit like asking "if you were single, would you prefer a blond, redhead, or brunette?" To me that answer depends on "which one." I happen to love Weller 12, a wheater, as well as Eagle Rare or Knob Creek, from rye. It is great to have variety.

I've spent the last several months drinking quite a bit of Belgian ales. And while I can't say I got really tired of them it was a real pleasure to get a good English real ale for a change. That is a bit the way I am with bourbons.

I'm with Dane...I like 'em both, it just depends on my mood at the time.

Ditto all that. I can't make a choice of one over the other. I know examples of each that are among the best on my shelf.

I'm with Dane... I like both depending on the circumstances, but voted Wheat because I like the sweetness that is often a charactaristic http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...mlins/grin.gif

Hmmm. . . Which is my [current] favorite, Rock Hill Farms or Van Winkle Family Reserve 12 y/o? http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...s/confused.gif I really can't make such a choice.

The only way I can arrive at any rationale for picking either rye recipe or wheat as a group is to imagine I have the choice of drinking only one or the other for the rest of my life.

Except for the Van Winkles I would have little problem giving up the wheaters. There simply aren't that many contenders.

On the rye side their are numerous bottlings that I enjoy to the point that I'd miss them. (Along those lines Russell's Reserve comes to mind for some reason. http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...lins/frown.gif )

Based in part on sheer numbers, I'd have to go with the rye recipe bourbons.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

My absolute favorite bourbon is Stagg (rye), but following that comes VW15 & Weller 12 (both wheaters).

I suppose I'd have to vote rye (which I did), seeing as a rye takes top place for me, but if you averaged the top three favorites...

Good thing we can have them all! http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...ins/woohoo.gif

I voted for rye. However, if you had a third pick--something along the lines of "indifferent" I'd probably have chosen that instead. I think ryed bourbons really shine at lower ages, whereas the spectacular wheaters are older.