Rye vs. Bourbon: Whiskey of Florida

There are some big similarities between rye and bourbon as they are cousins of the same fermented cereal grain family. However, when it comes to flavor and drinking experience, they’re very different. The release of our latest spirit, Dune Allen Rye Whiskey, paired alongside our longtime member of our Gulf Coast distillery, Blue Mountain Beach Bourbon, is a fun comparison. We don’t blame you if you want to run down to our distillery in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, to immediately compare the two. 

There’s a long and rich history of distilling in Florida, which escalated in the 1920’s during the Prohibition era. With the proximity to Cuba and the Bahamas, Miami and Tampa were hot spots for the illegal buying and selling of spirits during the time. After Prohibition ended, regulations stayed in place preventing Florida distillers the easy opportunity to make and sell product. Finally, in 2013, Florida legislation passed a bill that allowed the existence of microdistilleries.

The Southern United States is the birthplace of bourbon, and continues to be the home of both new versions and classics alike. The history of liquor in Florida, mixed with the new and vivacious distillery market in the area, the Florida whiskey influence is very much alive. 

Bourbon like our Blue Mountain Beach Bourbon, is a sweeter, barrel-aged whiskey that requires over half of its mash to be corn. Our Florida bourbon is made only with corn, malted barley, rye, water, and yeast. It is aged in hand-selected barrels at our sister distillery, Sugarfield Spirits in Gonzales, Louisiana. We never add any caramel coloring, additives, or ingredients you can’t pronounce. Our latest bourbon batch features spice and pepper on the palate, and finishes with sweet butterscotch and oak. 

Our newest spirit, the Dune Allen Rye Whiskey, is required to contain over 51% rye grain. Typically, rye whiskey is a higher alcohol content than bourbon, with a wide array of flavor profiles. We make our Florida rye whiskey with rye, malted barley, water and yeast. Just like our Florida bourbon, there are no additives. Our rye smells of cola, clove, and pipe tobacco, tastes of maple syrup, Chinese peppers, and black pepper, and finishes with notes of rye, balanced tannins and a lingering warmth. 

Want to compare the two? Stop by our Santa Rosa Beach Tasting Room to compare our rye and bourbon. Or, you can always search ‘Florida liquor store near me’ or click here, to grab a bottle and try a recipe at home. When comparing the two, we recommend keeping it simple with a whiskey on the rocks, or a classic old fashioned, with either bourbon or rye. 

Old Fashioned (Rye or Bourbon)

3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
2 Dashes orange bitters
.25 oz simple syrup (or upgrade to demerara syrup for a smoother mouthfeel)
2 oz Dune Allen Rye Whiskey or Blue Mountain Beach Bourbon

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir for 30 seconds, strain mixture over one large cube in a rocks glass. Compare and enjoy!