Scotch vs. Bourbon

[beloitpiper]

Most, if not all of us, on X Marks are united by our Scottish heritage (I acknowledge our friends who have no Scottish lineage, but hold an interest in the subject). However, we also have many, if not a majority, of our membership from the United States. And from that subset, we have many members from the South.

That being said--which do you prefer? Scotch or Bourbon? Oh, and I'd like to know why.

I personally prefer Scotch. I feel it is more complex and the earthiness of malt I find more interesting than the overwhelming sweetness of corn. However, I am starting to enjoy more American whiskey--namely Templeton Rye, Woodford Reserve, and Pappy Van Winkle.

[Woot22]

What about Tennessee Whiskey??? Lets have a third option.

[punk_lawyer]

It's difficult for me to pick a winner between the two. Granted, I graduated from the University of Kentucky where consuming copious amounts of bourbon is a graduation prerequisite so my tendency is to go with bourbon. My vote is with the bourbon side of this one. The mellow sweetness trumps the earthiness for me.

Just as a side note, when I toured the Buffalo Trace Distillery there were several clear statements of how bourbon and scotch are way more different than people would assume. The folks at the distillery seemed to take an apples versus oranges approach to the comparison.

[Woodsheal]

Rye is the quintessential American whiskey, though superseded in popularity by bourbon in latter years. Tennessee sourmash is, of course, another great innovation of the southern colonies!

Comparing any of these to Scotch (or Irish) is like comparing lemonade to limeade to orange juice to grapefruit juice. They're all different but related, and I enjoy drinking all of 'em...!

[tpa]

What's bourbon?

[azwildcat96]

If I really tried hard to decide and pick only one over the other, I think my head would explode.

[TurboKittie]

Seeing as I can't bring myself to choose between them, can I get a Balvenie with a Maker's Mark back?

[xman]

What's the weather like?

[Joshua]

Depends on my wallet and mood...

Bulliet or Maker's Mark when I feel homesick and have a little cash to spend. I rarely drink any other American whiskeys (Jim/Jack/George/Turkey).

Scotch when I feel the need to treat myself.

And since someone brought it up before in another thread, true "American Whiskey", White Corn Liquor... you find someone that knows how to make the stuff right, and it ends up being one of the smoothest white liquors on the planet.

[DougC]

I like Scotch. So does my brother. My dad like Bourbon. My mom likes Scotch. There are several Scotches and Bourbons that taste very similar. I can't stand Irish whiskey. Its not that it doesn't taste good...I just get angry the morning after for some reason.