I have not done a side-by-side whiskey comparison in months, and it is so much fun. So today, let me look at a rye comparison: Woodford Reserve Rye vs Bulleit Rye whiskey. Earlier this year, I tasted the Woodford Rye whiskey, and the bottle gave me so much inspiration for side-by-side comparison posts.
I wanted to see how it stacks up against other ryes, such as the Jack Daniel’s and the Bulleit Rye. It will also be interesting to see how it compares to the Woodford Reserve bourbon. Over the past weekend, I have played around with the various ryes in my collection.
So, I’ll first start by capturing my tasting notes for the Woodford Reserve Rye vs Bulleit Rye whiskey. In a way, it is a clash between two whiskey powerhouses, Diageo vs Brown Forman. Can there only be one champion? Or is there a place for both of these bottles in your collection?
Both rye releases are readily available in South Africa, so let’s jump into the Woodford Reserve Rye vs Bulleit Rye comparison.
Bulleit Rye Whiskey
Augustus Bulleit produced the first Bulleit bourbon. He wanted to create a bourbon with a unique flavour profile and experimented with varying recipes until he found a whiskey he was happy with. He started his bourbon, which was available until he died in 1860.
Years later, his great-great-grandson, Tom Bulleit, dreamt of continuing his ancestor’s distilling tradition, and in 1987, he created a small batch bourbon bearing the family name. Diageo owns the Bulleit brand. The bottles are modelled on old medicine bottles, with distinctive raised lettering. The label on the Bulleit Rye is green.
Bulleit Rye whiskey was introduced in March 2011. It is a whiskey high in rye compared to other rye releases. The mash bill has 95% rye and 5% malted barley and is produced in small batches.
Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey
The Woodford Reserve Rye whiskey was launched in 2015 as the third permanent addition to the core range. The rye whiskey uses a pre-prohibition style rye ratio to pay homage to history’s original rye whiskeys.
It is a NAS (No Age Statement) release, and the mash bill is 53% rye, 33% corn, and 14% malt. Woodford Reserve is part of the Brown Forman stable. The Woodford Reserve Rye bottle shape is similar to the Woodford Reserve bourbon, just with green labelling.
Woodford Reserve Rye vs Bulleit Rye Whiskey
| Bulleit Rye Whiskey | Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rye whiskey | Rye whiskey |
| Mashbill | 95% rye and 5% malted barley | 53% rye, 33% corn, and 14% malt |
| ABV | 45% | 45.2% |
| Colour | Light golden caramel | Polished copper |
| Nose | Sweet and fresh. Cherries and vanilla with hints of grain and toasted oak. Subtle rye spices with hints of cinnamon and cloves. | Caramel sweetness, fresh green orchid fruit, cereal and toasted wood. The traditional rye spice notes with hints of black pepper. Elegant and soft. |
| Palate | Caramel sweetness followed by fresh fruit and green herbs before the spicy notes. Overripe cherries, dry roasted peanuts and crunchy grain. Then follows the rye spice mixed with vanilla, cinnamon and hints of pepper and cloves. Water brings more orange notes forward. | Rye spices mixed with fresh fruit, green grass and black pepper. Bits of honey and bourbon vanilla with a butterscotch note. Toasted oak, green herbs with bits of orange. Medium body that is soft and oily. Water softens the rye spice notes, and it is delicious without water. Not the boldest rye, but an outstanding balance between the rye spice and sweet fruity notes. |
| Finish | A spicy rye finish with cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Medium length. Warming. | Medium length with oaky notes, pepper and caramel sweetness. Something green in the background. |
| My Rating | Excellent | Excellent |
| Price point | $40 | $43 |
Side by side, the difference in the mash bill is quite noticeable. The Bulleit is spicier with more pronounced cinnamon, pepper, and cloves. The Bulleit Rye brings a more cherry and vanilla sweetness when compared to the Woodford Reserve Rye.
The Woodford Reserve is softer and more balanced with mixed fruit sweetness. The Woodford spices are milder and less distinctive than the Bulleit.
Both have a caramel-sweet undertone in the background. The finish on the Bulleit is longer and spicier, while the Woodford Reserve has more woody oak and sweetness in the finish. The Bulleit Rye will be better when looking at rye-forward cocktails.
The Woodford Reserve Rye is not the most complex or bold whiskey. However, it is sweeter and more approachable. If I have to choose between these two, I prefer the Woodford Reserve Rye. The Bulleit Rye doesn’t hide the spiciness; it is bolder and slightly more complex. John loved the Bulleit Rye the most as his palate prefers spicier tastes.
There is a big difference in price between the two bottles. The Bulleit is nearly double the price in ZAR. That tips the scale in the Woodford Reserve direction. A great-tasting rye at an affordable price.
If you are passionate about rye, the Bulleit Rye is worth the extra money. However, the Woodford Reserve is perfect if you want to explore rye whiskey to learn new tastes.
In this Woodford Reserve Rye vs Bulleit Rye comparison, we’ve delved into the histories of these two powerhouse distillers and the distinctive characteristics of their rye whiskeys. While both are excellent choices, your preference may ultimately be your palate and budget.
If you’re looking for more spice and complexity, the Bulleit Rye could be your top pick. On the other hand, if you seek a sweeter and more approachable rye at an affordable price, the Woodford Reserve Rye is a solid choice. It’s a clash of the titans in the world of rye whiskey, and both contenders have their strengths.
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Kevin Donegan
That was a really useful comparison, thank you. Here in Spain, where I am, the Bulleit Rye (at €30) is actually slightly cheaper than the Woodford (at €35), so I assume the pricing switch with SA is mostly due to distribution/distributor markup etc.
I was curious if you had tried them both in the classic Manhattan cocktail, and how you found them. So far I’ve tried the Bulleit Rye, and it gives a spicier, edgier note to the cocktail than with the standard Bulleit Bourbon (€24 here). But I haven’t tried the Woodford yet.
Thanks again for writing the comparison