Bourbons similar to Van Winkle

[JMac72]

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for bourbons that would be similar in taste and price to Van Winkle 10 year?

For example in another forum....it was mentioned that Kentucky XO was similar....I can't seem to find any other independent reviews of Kentucky XO so I can't be sure on the accuracy of that statement.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Attila]

Its difficult to answer your questions because there have been several diffierent 10 year VW products on the market at some time or another.

I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations for bourbons that would be similar in taste and price to Van Winkle 10 year?

[wadewood]

The current Van Winkle 10 year old products are made at Buffalo Trace. Barrels are selected by Julian Van Winkle to meet the taste profile. It is a wheated bourbon.

You might give Weller 12 YO at try. It is made at Buffalo Trace and is a wheated bourbon. That said, I think Julian is a master at picking the right barrels and well Weller 12 might be similar and it is not going be the same.

[kickert]

if it is the 10/107 VanWinkle that you like, you may also try Old Weller Antique 107. It is only 7 years, but has the higher proof. If you have been drinking the 10/90, I would go with the Weller 12

[chefnash51]

if you are reffeing to Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year (107 proof), then I would have to throw Weller Antique 107 prrof, aged 7 years.

I find similarites in both.

Edit - beat to the punch yeah.. what kickert said...

[Attila]

BT 10 year Wheat sounds like Weller Cent. Rumoured to be no longer in production, as those barrels are now going to supply Julian.

[JMac72]

Thanks for all the suggestions....Weller it is!. I am trying to build a base of bourbon and bourbon profiles I like. Once that is done I will branch out and explore others.

[DeanSheen]

JMac, Weller Centennial is out of production.

[JMac72]

JMac, Weller Centennial is out of production.

nuts.....I'll scratch that off my list and move on to WL Weller Antique and/or 12...

[scratchline]

Don't scratch it off. Weller Centennial is still around. Where you at?

-Mike

[JMac72]

I'm up in Canada specifically BC. Bourbon is not a big product around here but Rye is....

I usually buy my bourbon when I visit family in the US...

[scratchline]

Until recently there were lots of bottles of Centennial in Rochester, NY. Since getting back to NYC, I've seen it in several stores here. My guess is that there are more bottles scattered around the US than people realize. Keep it on your list and keep your eyes open and you'll find some. It's good whiskey but I think the current Old Rip Van Winkle 10 is every bit as good. I've seen that less often than the Centennial lately.

-Mike

[squire]

We still have some Centennial around here, guess I should get it while I still can.

[troyce]

Any Centennial still around Louisville, Lexington or Bowling Green? I wouldnt mind picking up a few next week.

[JMac72]

I have family in Arkansas just outside of Fayetteville. I'll ask to see if they can scout around for me. For any Arkies here I'll post the update.....

[JMac72]

As an update...I have tried the WL Weller SR and loved it...it is quite similar to ORVW10/90 so I have a few stashed.

I have also tried the OWA with high hopes. However I don't know if it was me or the bottle but on opening it, I was hit with an immediate odour of raw alcohol. Even holding the glass (and then the bottle) a foot away did not help. The alcohol overpowered all other aromas. So I let the bottle and glass sit open for approx 15 minutes. Still no change re the odour of alcohol.

The same for my first sip at room temperature...the alcohol overpowered everything else. The end result was I poured Coke into the glass and gave the bottle to my brother-in-law.

Is this typical for OWA? Might this bourbon be a little bit much for a Novice? Maybe I should get another bottle, open it, then let it sit for awhile then try it??

[kickert]

As an update...I have tried the WL Weller SR and loved it...it is quite similar to ORVW10/90 so I have a few stashed.

I have also tried the OWA with high hopes. However I don't know if it was me or the bottle but on opening it, I was hit with an immediate odour of raw alcohol. Even holding the glass (and then the bottle) a foot away did not help. The alcohol overpowered all other aromas. So I let the bottle and glass sit open for approx 15 minutes. Still no change re the odour of alcohol.

The same for my first sip at room temperature...the alcohol overpowered everything else. The end result was I poured Coke into the glass and gave the bottle to my brother-in-law.

Is this typical for OWA? Might this bourbon be a little bit much for a Novice? Maybe I should get another bottle, open it, then let it sit for awhile then try it??

[ggilbertva]

As an update...I have tried the WL Weller SR and loved it...it is quite similar to ORVW10/90 so I have a few stashed.

I have also tried the OWA with high hopes. However I don't know if it was me or the bottle but on opening it, I was hit with an immediate odour of raw alcohol. Even holding the glass (and then the bottle) a foot away did not help. The alcohol overpowered all other aromas. So I let the bottle and glass sit open for approx 15 minutes. Still no change re the odour of alcohol.

The same for my first sip at room temperature...the alcohol overpowered everything else. The end result was I poured Coke into the glass and gave the bottle to my brother-in-law.

Is this typical for OWA? Might this bourbon be a little bit much for a Novice? Maybe I should get another bottle, open it, then let it sit for awhile then try it??

[Klepackage]

As an update...I have tried the WL Weller SR and loved it...it is quite similar to ORVW10/90 so I have a few stashed.

I have also tried the OWA with high hopes. However I don't know if it was me or the bottle but on opening it, I was hit with an immediate odour of raw alcohol. Even holding the glass (and then the bottle) a foot away did not help. The alcohol overpowered all other aromas. So I let the bottle and glass sit open for approx 15 minutes. Still no change re the odour of alcohol.

The same for my first sip at room temperature...the alcohol overpowered everything else. The end result was I poured Coke into the glass and gave the bottle to my brother-in-law.

Is this typical for OWA? Might this bourbon be a little bit much for a Novice? Maybe I should get another bottle, open it, then let it sit for awhile then try it??

The OWA 107 can also vary from bottle to bottle. I'm talking current production because that's what you're likely to find. My first bottle was really smoky and alcoholic but other bottles I've tried have been much better.

Kickert really loves his Weller 12. That's one that varies for me. Some nights I think it's great, other times it's very underwhelming.

In all honesty, I'd say your best bet is to go for the Van Winkle bourbons. The Old Rip Van Winkle 10/107 is one of my favorite bourbons all around.

[DeanSheen]

^ So I'm not nuts, the two bottles of the OWA I have had have both had smoke in them. I dont like smoke in my bourbon.

[JMac72]

Thanks for the input...I have a bottle of ORVW 10/107 stashed as well. I drank a bottle and loved it; hence the high hopes for OWA 107. I haven't seen the Weller 12 around. The only Wellers I have seen in Arkansas have been SR and Antique.

I'm thinking I'm going to get another bottle of OWA, open it, and then let it sit for a month or so then try it. I love rhum agricole such as Neisson, Damoiseau, etc so high proof spirits are not new. I was taken aback by OWA though...

[Klepackage]

I think that's a good idea. I have noticed that my wheaters tend to blossom quite nicely after they've been opened for a bit.

When I cracked my first bottle of PVW 15, the first pour was really quite disappointing. I had tasted other open bottles and they were all quite amazing so I was pretty bummed with what I tasted.

I revisited it two weeks later and it was exactly what I expected. Delicious through and through.

[p_elliott]

I happen to be one on the list that just loves the OWA 107 it's great and I don't notice the alcohol at all. I tell all the Maker's Mark fans to try this.

[tommyboy38]

I find the OWA a bit weak so I'll vat it 50/50 with some Everclear. That's just about right where I like it. Of course, I'm not serious though. Definitely revisit a bottle days or weeks later if the first taste doesn't please you. Recently opened my first WT101 and if was nothing but alcohol both in taste and scent...came back a few days later and it was much much better. And that's not the first bottle it's happened to.

P.S. - I can't find a darn bottle of Centennial anywhere in Chicago. I don't think they exist. Looks like it was much more popular in other areas on the country.

[BourbonJoe]

I'm one who really likes OWA. Never had a bad bottle of it. As wheaters go, it's a big bang for the buck.

Joe :usflag: