You know the giant bottles you might see on an endcap in a liquor or grocery store trying to draw attention to some particular brand? Those can be Rye or Bourbon as well. You know those tiny liquor bottles you see on the plane or in little gift sets? You can get those bottles filled with Bourbon or Rye. Price, Size, Color, Alcohol Percentage Comparison Bourbon hits you with a sweet, vanilla, oak flavor and Rye hits you with that grassy peppery spice. That said, it is still very easy to tell the difference between the two the moment it hits your lips. They are both types of Whiskey, they are both distilled spirits, they are both high-proof, they are both brown liquors, and they both originated in the United States of America. It is probably becoming abundantly clear that there are a lot of similarities between Bourbon vs Rye. The char adds to the flavor of the spirit over the numerous years of aging. Rye, on the other hand, starts with 51% or more Rye with barley and corn making up the rest of the grain bill.īourbon and Rye are aged in American White Oak barrels that have been charred at hundreds of degrees. Bourbon starts with 51% or more corn in addition to various percentages of barley and rye. What Are They Made Of?Īs previously alluded to the main ingredient for Bourbon is corn. Pot stills are often done one batch at a time and column stills run continuously. For example, distillation can be done with a pot still or a column still. Other than that the basic steps are the same.ĭepending on the Bourbon or Rye brand there are different methods that can be used to achieve a unique spirit. Bourbon needs to be made with at least 51% corn. How is making Bourbon different from making Rye? Well, the only real difference in the process is the mash bill. That’s because it still needs to be aged in charred oak barrels usually for at least two years and sometimes for much longer. When ready the liquid is distilled which concentrates and purifies the alcohol.Īt this point, you could start inviting your friends over for a drinking party but it wouldn’t be Rye Whiskey yet. The blend is then fermented for a number of days to create the alcohol. The grains are then mixed with water and yeast while being heated to create a mash. Rye Whiskey starts with a mix of grains that include 51% rye. How Are They Made?īoth Rye Whiskey and Bourbon Whiskey go through many of the same steps but with different tasting results. Rye Whiskey is made with at least 51% rye in the grain bill and has a decidedly spicier taste than Bourbon. Rye Whiskey has never been as popular as Bourbon but it has been seeing a bit of a comeback in recent years. Rye Whiskey has also been around since the late 1700s but in the Northern part of the United States – like Pennsylvania and Maryland. To be considered Bourbon the Whiskey must be produced in the United States (bonus points if it is also made in Kentucky), the grain bill must be at least 51% corn, and it must be aged in new charred oak barrels. Still, it is generally accepted that European immigrants that settled in Kentucky are responsible for the eventual creation of Bourbon. There are a few stories on who was the first Bourbon distiller. Records on the early days of Bourbon are not the most reliable – possibly due to taking too many sips while writing. Some of the kinds of Whiskey most worth mentioning are Irish Whiskey, Canadian Blended Whisky, Tennessee Whiskey, Scotch Whisky, Bourbon Whiskey, and Rye Whiskey.īourbon has been around since the late 1700s. There are also many types of Whiskey based on the ingredients, production process, and region. Whiskey is a distilled alcoholic spirit made by fermenting grains, distilling, and aging in wooden barrels. Whiskey as it’s spelled in the United States and Ireland, and Whisky as it’s spelled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan are the same beverage. They share many things but there are also some distinct differences.
Is Bourbon vs Rye even a matchup? Should they be playing on the same team? It’s ok to relax as the showdown of Rye vs Bourbon is one that can and should be tackled. What counts as Whiskey and how specifically do Bourbon vs Rye fit into the equation? Let’s get to the bottom of this (bottle). Whiskey seems like an easy enough topic to discuss but there are so many questions and misconceptions. How about the song One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by George Thorogood & The Destroyers? Why would you have a shot of one kind of Whiskey followed by a different kind of Whiskey?
In American Pie by Don McLean he sings “Them good old boys were drinking Whiskey and Rye.” But aren’t Whiskey and Rye basically the same thing?
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