WT101 RYE Question?

[ElasticalGomez]

So here's a question that may have been asked a thousand times already:

Why does it not say "bourbon" on the WT101 Rye bottle?

[kickert]

It is not a bourbon. It is a Rye Whiskey.

Bourbon must have over 51% corn in the mashbill. A Rye Whiskey must have over 51% rye in the mashbill. WTR101 falls into the later catagory (as do whiskies like Rittenhouse, Old Overhold, Sazerac...)

[bluesbassdad]

So here's a question that may have been asked a thousand times already:

Why does it not say "bourbon" on the WT101 Rye bottle?

Perhaps it's been asked in other ways.

Bourbon is legally defined. One element of the definition is that the mash must be at least 51% corn.

Rye is also legally defined. One element of the defintion is that the mash must be at least 51% rye.

Those requirements preclude labeling a spirit as both bourbon and rye.

I used to have the relevant Federal regs bookmarked, but I lost it when I switched browsers recently.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[LarryG]

Why does it not say "bourbon" on the WT101 Rye bottle?

Because it's not bourbon. It's rye whiskey.

By law, the mashbill for bourbon must contain at least 51% corn. Similarly, the mashbill for rye whiskey must contain at least 51% rye.

Larry

[ElasticalGomez]

ok.

i knew about the legalities of "bourbon" but thought that WTR101 was a rye bourbon and not a rye whiskey.

[Rughi]

ok.

i knew about the legalities of "bourbon" but thought that WTR101 was a rye bourbon and not a rye whiskey.

That's an easy mistake to make.
WT101 (the bourbon) has rye in the mashbill - perhaps 18% +/-

Roger

[bluesbassdad]

ok.

i knew about the legalities of "bourbon" but thought that WTR101 was a rye bourbon and not a rye whiskey.

Whiskey is a distilled spirit made from grain, of whatever kind.

One possible basis for confusion is the following. Bourbon may contain rye or wheat as the so-called "flavor grain" (usually rye, rarely both). They have such different flavors that a bourbon that has wheat in the mash is sometimes referred to as a "wheater" or "wheat-recipe bourbon".

Because rye-recipe bourbon, such as WT101, is the norm, its full appellation isn't used very often.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[ElasticalGomez]

Because rye-recipe bourbon, such as WT101, is the norm, its full appellation isn't used very often.

ah, ok. that makes sense. thanks guys!

[craigthom]

Bourbon may contain rye or wheat as the so-called "flavor grain" (usually rye, rarely both).

I don't think the small grain has to be rye or wheat. It's got to be grain to be a whiskey, and it's got to have at least 51% corn to be a bourbon, but the other grains can be anything. They just aren't.

[kickert]

I don't think the small grain has to be rye or wheat. It's got to be grain to be a whiskey, and it's got to have at least 51% corn to be a bourbon, but the other grains can be anything. They just aren't.

Actually the way the rules are stated, to be a bourbon it must 51% corn and then also contain only wheat, rye, or barley.