Jump to content

What are your favorite Wheaters?

KCJason1

By KCJason1
in General Bourbon Discussion

 Share
This topic has been inactive for at least 365 days, and is now closed. Please feel free to start a new thread on the subject! 

Recommended Posts

KCJason1 Advanced Taster

KCJason1

Posted
Posted

Everybody knows about PVW...

For me I love:

PVW20

OWA

OW12

Bernheim

I just picked up a bottle of larceny tonight to try...

But what are some of your other favorite wheaters that you drink regularly or are others you feel are must try's?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Richnimrod Deity

Richnimrod

Posted
Posted

I'll pitch in here.

My fave Wheaters in more or less descending order are as follows:

Pappy 20 yr.

Pappy 15 yr.

SB Blend (60% OWA, 40% W12)

Old Rip 10 yr. 107

Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12 yr.

Pappy 23 yr.

OWA

Larceny

Weller Special Reserve

There are a few other "lesser lights" that I've tried and found are all about equal; but below these, IMHO.

FYI Bernheim isn't a true Bourbon Wheater. My understanding is it's "Wheat Whiskey". I find it really mild and not particularly flavorful... kinda like Basil Hayden is to rye based Bourbons; but even milder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KCJason1 Advanced Taster

KCJason1

Posted
  • Author
Posted
I'll pitch in here.

My fave Wheaters in more or less descending order are as follows:

Pappy 20 yr.

Pappy 15 yr.

SB Blend (60% OWA, 40% W12)

Old Rip 10 yr. 107

Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12 yr.

Pappy 23 yr.

OWA

Larceny

Weller Special Reserve

There are a few other "lesser lights" that I've tried and found are all about equal; but below these, IMHO.

FYI Bernheim isn't a true Bourbon Wheater. My understanding is it's "Wheat Whiskey". I find it really mild and not particularly flavorful... kinda like Basil Hayden is to rye based Bourbons; but even milder.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JVande Advanced Taster

JVande

Posted
Posted

Rather than pick the obvious bottling's, I am just going to say that I really like wheaters that were DISTILLED in the late 80's and early 90's and BOTTLED at 7-15 years old.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Old Dusty Disciple

Old Dusty

Posted
Posted

For me the "Wheated Trinity" if you will and if you can find a bottle or at least a sample is:

1) Old Rip 15/107

2) PHC 4

3) WLW 2006 (129.9 proof)

For me those were exemplars of the style from S-W, HH and BT.

Back to earth I go with W12/107 blend, VSOF, and Maker's 46 for easy to find pours.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
fishnbowljoe Deity

fishnbowljoe

Posted
Posted

My usual answer for a "What Is Your Favorite" type of question is: The one in my hand. :)

I really do like all wheaters, Weller's in particular. But if I had to pick only one, it would be the 2007 WLW. :yum:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tylermke Connoisseur

tylermke

Posted
Posted

My top 3 in order:

1. 2009 PVW15

2. 2011 WLW (have not tried any WLW prior to 2009)

3. PHC4 (1st dump, have not tried the 2nd)

Honorable mentions:

2012 WLW, 2012 PVW15, JPS17 (batch 2)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
KCJason1 Advanced Taster

KCJason1

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)
My top 3 in order:

1. 2009 PVW15

2. 2011 WLW (have not tried any WLW prior to 2009)

3. PHC4 (1st dump, have not tried the 2nd

Honorable mentions:

2012 WLW, 2012 PVW15, JPS17 (batch 2)

2012 WLW was great! Still haven't cracked the 13... One day soon!

Edited by KCJason1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
KCJason1 Advanced Taster

KCJason1

Posted
  • Author
Posted
You need to find your own way...

Ha... I made the ow12/OWA. 60/40 blend... To compare to PVW20 side by side. It was a good blend but didn't blow me away... Of course I was comparing to 2012 pvw20.. I also understand the blend is supposed to be more compatible to pvw15...

I guess what I'm asking is the ow12/OWA 40/60. More comparable to the pvw15? Rather then the 60/40 I made?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
black mamba Enthusiast

black mamba

Posted
Posted

1. 2009 PVW20

2. 2010 WLW (BTAC)

3. JPS17 (early release, don't remember the batch no.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tylermke Connoisseur

tylermke

Posted
Posted
Ha... I made the ow12/OWA. 60/40 blend... To compare to PVW20 side by side. It was a good blend but didn't blow me away... Of course I was comparing to 2012 pvw20.. I also understand the blend is supposed to be more compatible to pvw15...

I guess what I'm asking is the ow12/OWA 40/60. More comparable to the pvw15? Rather then the 60/40 I made?

To me, the SB blend doesn't really compare well to PVW15. Depending on the ratio used, it's much better suited as a comparison to ORVW 10/107.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
GaryT Guru

GaryT

Posted
Posted
Ha... I made the ow12/OWA. 60/40 blend... To compare to PVW20 side by side. It was a good blend but didn't blow me away... Of course I was comparing to 2012 pvw20.. I also understand the blend is supposed to be more compatible to pvw15...

I guess what I'm asking is the ow12/OWA 40/60. More comparable to the pvw15? Rather then the 60/40 I made?

I've never done a blind sbs, but I tried the two at various ratios (60/40 each way, and 50/50) to find my preference, which is heavier on the OWA. It might not be comparable to PVW, but for the money it is probably the best pour in my cabinet.

As to the op, here are mine in no particular order:

SB Blend (60 OWA/40 W12)

OWA

ORVW

PVW 15

VSOF

Any WLW

And like Sean, I loves me some PHC 4 :yum:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Auracom Enthusiast

Auracom

Posted
Posted

Nothing new here:

- WLW 2011 (which is the only vintage I've tried, actually)

- PVW20 (prefer 2013 to 2012 from the samples I've had)

- PVW15

Having been through newer bottlings of both W12 and OWA, I admit that I was a bit disappointed by both. I don't think W12 compares well at all to PVW15.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WsmataU Enthusiast

WsmataU

Posted
Posted

OK, I'll say it since no one else is willing to...Weller Centennial is my personal favorite. I wish one of the distilleries was willing to make a 10 yr wheated BiB at a reasonable price. VSOF is as close as I can get today, but it isn't available in my area. And yes, given the choice I pick Cent over PVW15 or 20 (most of the time).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Old Dusty Disciple

Old Dusty

Posted
Posted
OK, I'll say it since no one else is willing to...Weller Centennial is my personal favorite. I wish one of the distilleries was willing to make a 10 yr wheated BiB at a reasonable price. VSOF is as close as I can get today, but it isn't available in my area. And yes, given the choice I pick Cent over PVW15 or 20 (most of the time).

And really isn't the SB blend supposed to imitate a 10/100 wheated bourbon? Some amalgam of ORVW 10/107, Lot B and Weller Cent? Still don't get why people claim it's a PVW 15 imitation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Richnimrod Deity

Richnimrod

Posted
Posted
I have a question? Is it OWA/OW12 at a 60/40 or 40/60? I've heard both ways...

I like 60% OWA. Others may prefer 50-50 or 60-40 the other way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Richnimrod Deity

Richnimrod

Posted
Posted

Jeeeez, how could I forget William Larue Weller? :bigeyes: That would be in first, or tied for first most years.

I specifically left out Parker's 4 since it's a 'one-off', and Weller Centennial, for the same reasoning. Can't really expect to find either, any more. I guess you could say that about WLW, too; ...but there's always next year!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WsmataU Enthusiast

WsmataU

Posted
Posted
And really isn't the SB blend supposed to imitate a 10/100 wheated bourbon? Some amalgam of ORVW 10/107, Lot B and Weller Cent? Still don't get why people claim it's a PVW 15 imitation.

Oh yeah. I wish I could drink Centennial every day, but the SB blend is an inexpensive alternative. I don't have the palate that some here do. I can't tell the differences between the bottlings. I wrote about a SxSxS between OWA, PVW15 and ORVW10. Admittedly the deck was stacked for PVW (it was '07 bottled SW juice), but it really opened my eyes to how small the differences are and makes me question if the nuances are worth the extra $$$.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
WsmataU Enthusiast

WsmataU

Posted
Posted (edited)
Jeeeez, how could I forget William Larue Weller? :bigeyes: That would be in first, or tied for first most years.

I specifically left out Parker's 4 since it's a 'one-off', and Weller Centennial, for the same reasoning. Can't really expect to find either, any more. I guess you could say that about WLW, too; ...but there's always next year!

That's just it though....Centennial wasn't a "one-off." It was a mid-shelf regular that sold for $35/bttle just a few years ago (Just like VSOF is). PHC4 was a one time release, but not one of my favorite wheaters. It has too much alcohol burn, that I don't care for, but is still excellent whiskey. Which reminds me that HHSS is my new #2 behind Centennial (but again and extreme 1-off). I just wish I had more of it. It is PHC4 without any flaws :D

These all tell me HH could do the 10yr BiB if they wanted to, but I'm guessing it lowers their profit margin, because it requires them to age/store the whiskey longer.

Edited by WsmataU
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Yeti Disciple

Yeti

Posted
Posted

They're basically unicorn bottles, but the three best wheat recipe bourbons I've had were Old Rip 10/107 bottled in 1985, and two WFE 17 year bottled at 132.2 and 144 proof.

I haven't revisited HHSS, but a sample sip I had in the fall had me thinking it would be in the discussion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept