Van Winkle 10YO vs 15YO

[Bamber]

I have a terrible confession.

I prefer the Van Winkle 10YO (107 proof) to the Van Winkle 15YO (107 proof).

They've both got that really distinctive 'honecombe' aroma and taste but the greater rye influence in the 10YO makes it spicier and hotter, which for me adds to the overall enjoyment.

I've tried 3 Van Winkle whiskies now - the 13YO rye, and the 2 above. The rye is still a clear winner for me but I just love the 10YO.

Anyway its all good

Cheers,

Bamber.

[TNbourbon]

Anyway its all good.

Julian might want to consider employing that as his bourbons' motto.

[brian12069]

Bamber...I'm glad someone made a post on this. Van Winkle is my favorite. I recently tried the 10 year 107 and 15 year 107 proof and I quite frankly couldn't see much of a difference. I never tried the rye but I did try the 12 year 90.4 proof which wasn't quite as good. Still enjoyable but not quite as good. The 10 year 90 proof is very good too.

[LeNell]

I prefer the 12 year myself. I think it's darn near perfect when I can't afford to slosh down some 20 year. I love 'em all, though.

[dhooch]

Here's my two cents:

My favorite bourbon was Wild Turkey Rare Breed. That is, until I tasted Old Rip Van Winkle 15 yo. I prefer that brand, but only slightly.

I have ORVW 10 yo and the 12 yo, also. All three have a different taste, to me. Of the three, I like the 10 yo the least, even though I really liked it at first, (since that was my first premium bourbon) until I compared it with other premium bourbons.

Of the four bourbons I just mentioned, my rankings are:

1st - ORVW 15 yo

2nd - ORVW 12 yo and WT Rare Breed (a virtual tie)

3rd - ORVW 10 yo (107 proof)

The range is fairly tight, so that the ORVW 10 yo isn't too far behind the others.

As far as price is concerned and factored into the equation:

WT Rare Breed is about $28 in Cincinnati (actually across the river in Kentucky). ORVW 15 yo is about $39, the 12 yo is about $32 and the 10 yo is about $26. I would pay extra for the 15 yo, because it is so good. I would not buy the 10 yo again, since I prefer the 15 yo. I may consider buying the 12 yo, again because it has a different taste profile. Of course, I buy WT Rare Breed quite often, since I enjoy it and it is cheaper than most of the rest of the above.

I hope that confuses the issue, as much as I can make it.

[brian12069]

ahhhhhh man...all this Van Winkle talk is making me THIRSTY! Think I'll pour myself a small glass of 15 year right NOW! neat of course...

[ratcheer]

Are you sure you have thought about this, thoroughly?

Tim

[TrueBarrel]

Hi, all. Please see my intro in the "Off Topic" section. Glad to be aboard. I've never had a VW product I didn't like. I do like the 10 and the 12, but to me the 15 has a full-bodiedness and richness to it that neither the 10 nor 12 can match. I guess it all depends on what you're in the mood for. The 12 to me is one of the most beautifully balanced and refined bourbons I've had, but I find myself reaching for the 15 more than anything. I have a 20, and one of the old 23s, neither of which I've opened yet. Can't wait to try those.

Down to my last bottle of the 12 rye; gone through many of those and the 13s; just getting started on my F bottlings of the 13. Both, great stuff, but definately different from each other IMHO

For a couple of interesting VW bottlings that I don't think are available is USA, check out www.thewhiskyexchange.com website (UK).

[brian12069]

Are you sure you have thought about this, thoroughly?

Tim

SURE DID!...anyone else able to "sample" some Van Winkle tonight?

[Paradox]

Actually, yeah. Just a few minutes ago poured some of my favorite Van Winkle... ORVW 15yo 107 Proof.

Not including Julian's Ryes, I like them in this order.

ORVW 15 yo 107

Pappy 20 yo

ORVW 10 yo 107

ORVW 10 yo 90

I won't even include the 23 in there since its such a limited thing.

[LeNell]

I have a 20, and one of the old 23s, neither of which I've opened yet. Can't wait to try those.

Stop the waitin'! Get to drinkin'! I'm waiting for the 20 year to come back in stock. In the meantime, I think I'll defy all these postings and remind myself of the 10yr 90. Off to the liquor cabinet...

[brian12069]

I had some 20 year the other night. The 15 year is much better for my taste.

[cowdery]

Heaven forbid that any Van Winkle bourbon should contain rye. Van Winkle bourbons are all wheaters. I think there is maybe one exception to that rule, which no doubt someone will mention, but the Van Winkle family is known for using wheat instead of rye as the flavor grain in their bourbons.

[brian12069]

whatever they use it is deeeeeeeeeeeeeeliciouuuuus!

[Bamber]

Heaven forbid that any Van Winkle bourbon should contain rye. Van Winkle bourbons are all wheaters. I think there is maybe one exception to that rule, which no doubt someone will mention, but the Van Winkle family is known for using wheat instead of rye as the flavor grain in their bourbons.

That maybe so but the 107 10YO still tastes (and especially smells) like its got rye in it (IMHO). I actually sat down with a glass of the 15YO and the 10YO at the same time last night enjoying their great aroma, and whereas the 15YO was 'ryeless' the 10YO was sharper, more prickly and 'rye-ee'.

Does anyone know what they use in the mash mixes for these great whiskies ? The VWFRR 13YO came with a little card and bag of seeds showing what was used to make the stuff, which got me very excited at the time I seem to remember

The thing is do I really know what 'rye' tastes of ?

I've formed my opinion of 'what rye tastes like' from drinking rye whiskies and also bourbons, which are known to have a relatively high rye content. The thing is, its hard to know what taste comes from the barrel, the original mash, the storage environment, the beer making process (is that the right terminology ?) etc etc. More art than science ?

In fact, the rye I'm most familiar with is the aforementioned Van Winkle product. When I first tasted the 15YO it seemed obvious at the time that these 2 drinks were at least cousins. That being said one is very much rye based and one is seemingly 'rye-less'.

Anyway I'm confusing myself now

Cheers,

Bamber.

[Bamber]

(snip)

For a couple of interesting VW bottlings that I don't think are available is USA, check out www.thewhiskyexchange.com website (UK).

Get most of my whisky from them - Cameron, if your reading they deliver to OZ !

Cheers,

Bamber.

[clayton]

The ORVW 10-yr 90° was the first bourbon I ever bought. We were on vacation and I picked it up at a liquor store in Portland since I'd been reading a bit about whiskey just prior to our trip. When I opened the bottle and inhaled the maple sugar aroma of that bourbon, I knew I was stepping into a brave new world. The taste more than confirmed that, and I found myself to be a natural-born fan of bourbon. (Other non-native whiskies followed soon thereafter).

When I got back to Seattle, I bought a bottle of the 15-yr 107° and a 12-yr Special Reserve. I found that I enjoyed these even more than the 10/90. The 15 has a strong, rich range of flavors with the extra bite of 107°, and the 12 has an unusual character unlike any other bourbon I've tasted since.

The 10/90 was happily finished and I enjoyed it immensely. I have to say, though, that when these bottles are gone, the VW bottle I am most likely to buy again is the 15/107.