Whiskey Thief Uncut Unfiltered is described by the brand as having caramel and honey notes, a woody edge, and a hint of white pepper. Tasters on Distiller claim that this bourbon is flavorless, hard to get down, and incredibly bland and boring. But if all you care about is the results, scroll down to see which of the 21 bourbon brands we tried worked the best in an Old-Fashioned cocktail -- and which . This suggests their tried-and-true middle-shelf expressions may be a safer bet for most tastes than their limited-edition experiments. Officially defined as American-made corn-based whiskey aged in new charred oak barrels, bourbon first emerged in the 1780s in Kentucky, where settlers from Scotland and Ireland adapted their whiskey-making skills to local ingredients, as explained byThe Spruce Eats. Ultimately, Fighting Cock Bourbon is just a boring, blah booze. It is a 10-year-old Bottled-in-Bond named after the Irish immigrant who worked with the grains found in Kentucky and adapted his family recipe to them. Hayes Parker Reserve: Terre Pure bourbon aged at least six months. Sadly, it's also rated two stars by many reviewers on Distiller(as one taster laments, it was $20 down the drain). If you have even a passing familiarity with bourbon, you'd probably recognize its distinctive square bottle and red wax-dipped cap from across the room. To get here, it is a gorgeous drive through horse farms and rolling, bluegrass Kentucky hills. One of the best non-Kentucky high-rye distilleries out there is Indiana's own Hirsch, whose The Horizon bottles have a 94:6 ratio of two different straight bourbons: one distilled from a mashbill containing 21% rye (aged 4 . Fighting Cock Bourbon also called the "kickin' chicken" makes the regrettable bourbons list not because it's overpriced. It's aged for more than six years in American oak barrels, giving it what Ohanneson says are "notes of caramel, peanut brittle, and a thread of delicate, early summer fruit." It has a lush toffee sweetness and dark chocolate with hints of vanilla, fudge, nougat, and molasses. The whisky is then blended and proofed down to a very manageable 86 proof. It's a mainstream list, for sure. This alcoholic beverage has only been in existence since 2011. When Jefferson's master blender tapped the casks, the sugars in the bourbon had caramelized and turned into a viscous, black liquid. Apparently not, because it's also pretty thin. Get $150 in bonus bets no matter what! Buffalo Trace is like that brilliant, beautiful, and disgustingly successful girl from school that you wanted to hate but just couldn't because she was so very nice. If these famous individuals had more options, would they have still picked Old Crow? Now 52% Off. 31 Whiskey called their middle-shelf Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey "a smooth and delicious bourbon" with a balanced mouthfeel and finish. The site also says that Bright Lights, Big City smells of vanilla and oak, with a flavor of stone fruit, corn bread, caramel, and cashews that "lingers long after your final sip." You would think this spirit would be big, bold, and, live up to the hype. You really don't need any cavities. Those notes almost immediately disappear into the watery nature of the sip with no discernable finish but maybe that Wonder Bread dipped in tepid water. On YouTube, the folks fromIt's Bourbon Nightdescribe it as having a sweet, fruit nose but a stale, nutty, incredibly watered down taste, while Modern Thirst says it's bottom shelf, young tasting, and best used for mixing. These days, it's part of the Jim Beam empire. What's even more mind-boggling is that in 2018, this bourbon won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The bottle is spectacular, with an intricately etched label that compliments the amber hue of the bourbon itself. Wellness Weight Loss Nutrition. This 95% New York-grown corn bourbon holds the distinction of being the first (legal) whiskey produced in the state since Prohibition . Maybe the folks at Early Times took the whole historical angle a wee bit too far. It'll be interesting to see how Widow Jane evolves once its own distilled products start to enter the picture. It could be smoother and its hotness may strike some as excessive but it offers remarkable quality for a budget tipple, which is why it deserves a position in our top five bourbons. Why the sub-par reviews? Best Expression of the Category: New Southern Revival Brand Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Light is what comes to mind on the nose with a soft cream soda, a touch of caramel, and a little bit of corn husk. Though KOVAL has received over 100 international awards, perhaps it should focus its energy on perfecting one spirit instead of tackling multiple products all at once. Its easygoing character gives Maker's Mark another advantage, according to The Spruce Eats; while not the most memorable tipple to enjoy neat, it's fabulous in cocktails. His friends loved it and kept begging him for more "wild turkey bourbon" and the rest is history. As 31 Whiskey noted, "Basil Hayden's is to Old Grand-Dad as Acura is to Honda." Shipping is a great deal: $15 flat rate under $200; free shipping for orders over $200. Baby Bourbon (version 1.0) was groundbreaking in that it was the first legal whiskey made in New York since prohibition (via DrinkUpNY). Sticking with Willett, Old Bardstown Estate Bottled 101 for $28 is a massive jump in quality, taste, and overall usefulness. Best budget bourbon under $30: Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon - See at Total Wine If you want complex flavor without breaking the bank, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon offers a pleasant burst of flavor while remaining smooth. This bourbon from Lux Row is a wheated bourbon mash thats contract distilled partially off-site and partially made at the distillery. Somehow, you'll get everything from cherry to ginger to wasabi to brown butter, with a hint of grassiness. Malt likewise found pleasantly fruity notes in its Old Forester 1910. Hopefully not, though it's understandable that your curiosity might be piqued. All that's known about this whiskey is that the liquid parties involved are aged for a minimum of four years, and that a proportion of the Stitzel-Weller bourbon distilled prior to 1992 is also mixed in. Woodford Reserve may have done almost too good a job at making premium bourbon acceptable today, with hundreds of craft distillers creating their own premium blends, Woodford Reserve now falls near the middle of the curve in terms of price and status. The palate is very thin but carries a fair amount of buttery caramel, a dash of black pepper, a hint of cinnamon, and more of that soft cedar. Price: ~$10. This claim, however, has been disputed by the Century House Historical Society, the current custodians of the mine and surrounding properties, as Blue Stone Press reported. Our Top Bourbon Picks Best Overall: Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon Best for Sipping: Hillrock Solera Aged Bourbon Best for Whiskey Sour: Wild Turkey 101 Best for Manhattan: Breckenridge. Best $50 to $100 bourbon: Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon - See at Drizly Don't expect to impress your friends by pouring from a bottle of Paddleford Creek (even though the label is pretty darn cool which is all it seems to have going for it), because, as one observer on Distiller states, it "just doesn't do much of anything." "There's some vanilla and brown sugar in the beginning, but it's immediately replaced by an overwhelming flavor of oak. Woodford Reserve. This is the same mash thats used for bigger hitting brands like Eagle Rare, Stagg, and E.H. Taylor. The List: Best Bourbon, According To The Experts. And according toBreaking Bourbon, the even higher-proof (120 proof) Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon "is really easy to love," offering a similarly well-balanced profile, smooth with a long-lasting complex finish of cinnamon, oak, and leather. Meanwhile, Reddit users stated that it was bland, tasted like flavored water, and wasn't worth the price. The distillery's website states that this bourbon is aged a minimum of three years and has a mash bill consisting of 95% corn (100% from New York) and 5% malted barley. Best Value: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. Unless youre looking for a run-of-mill bourbon. The Barton 1792 Distiller produces one of the best bottom shelf bourbons in the world today. Basically, this bourbon is cloyingly sweet since it's finished in port wine barrels. When it comes to bourbon, it's no different. As a result, it's robust and woody, ideal for those . And if the Reddit comment "it tastes like rotting peanuts and cardboard" doesn't make you a little hesitant, then by all means, go forth and experiment. Maybe this one should be tossed overboard. One Redditoreven claimed that they "poured it down the sink after a dram and felt bad for the drain and my wallet.". This universality is achieved by letting the juice rest in deeply charred oak for six to seven years before its cut down to 81 proof for bottling. Blade and Bow is a 91 proof, $50 blended bourbon that has no age statement on the bottle. Thats just math. Like Evan Williams, Elijah Craig is a Heaven Hill distillery brand named for a legendary figure in bourbon history. Weller 12. This expression is the bottom rung in bottle form. It's also flavorful, for the most part. SLB Basement Bourbon Bar goes into detail about this regrettable purchase, saying that it is very grainy, bitter, thin, and young, and the alcohol burn isn't anything to joke about. The juice is then rested for six years before blending, cutting down to proof, and barreling, which, in turn, means that theres still a little sourced juice in the mix here. Whether or not Craig actually did invent this process is up for debate, but what's not up for debate are the numerous awards given to the bourbon brand that shares his name. Eagle Rare 10 Year Old. Human beings like to think that an inflated price and a striking bottle means it must be good, right? Thirty One Whiskey writes that the name is supposed to represent the two stars on the Louisville city flag. I think my wife's comments sum it up perfectly: "You can't make me put more in my mouth.". The finish is pretty much what youd expect for a bottle under $20 with a quick, watery fade, leaving you with the distant and vague idea of caramel, masa, and sweet oak those features could be a leftover from the nose more than the actual taste. Like all bourbon, its mash bill is mostly corn with a touch of malted barley. Reviewers on Flaviar state that the juice is weak with little flavor, with a hint of mud in the background. Unfortunately, you can't make a wish and ask for your $50 back. On each bottle of Blade and Bow is a collector's key, and if you collect all five keys, you'll become a member of the executive club. (That's a good thing.). Taking a shot of Knob Creek's Smoked Maple sounds like one of those questionable challenges that dare you to record yourself doing something ill-advised like eating a spoonful of cinnamon or, you know, drinking a jug of maple syrup. As The Whiskey Reviewer noted, the Black Bourbon, in particular, "would be appropriate for an inexpensive go-to, for cocktails or mixers.". I guess Id also take a shot of this as a beer back in a pinch but I wouldnt be hyped about it. Named for an 18th-century Kentucky settler who was allegedly Kentucky's first distiller (an impossible claim to prove, according toThe Whiskey Jug), Evan Williams in reality has no relationship to its namesake. Celebrity Workouts Ab Workouts Leg Workouts Total-Body Workouts Arms Workouts Chest . Meanwhile, Caskers describes butterscotch, molasses, brown sugar, and coffee. Jesse James Bourbon 5. Garrison Brothers is the first legal whiskey distillery outside of Kentucky, meaning they've obtained the proper permits from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to lawfully produce and distribute spirits through different businesses, vendors, and retailers (via Cobb & Counsel). Basil Hayden's is such a case. Whoever Old Grand-Dad was, he didn't pull his punches. In fact, it's just the opposite. And while some bourbon fans love this rough-and-ready style (Lynyrd Skynyrd gave the brand a shout-out in on of their songs, as noted byWhiskey Reviewer), it's definitely not for everyone, which is why we're putting it low on our list. 1792 Sweet Wheat - $35. This 92 proof straight bourbon whiskey hails from Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, located in a little town in Hudson Valley, New York. Its versatile, cheap, and damn good for what it is. Given Bulleits dismal history with the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities, Im not going to recommend any other expression from the brand. A $20 Buffalo Trace bourbon available everywhere is now $200 and nowhere to be found. On the other hand, Malt gave low marks to their pricey ($85) Single Barrel 73-IV, noting its "awkward and unbalanced sensations." The Worst Bourbon Whiskeys From All The Major Kentucky Distilleries, The Best Coachella 2023 Performances Were Reflections Of Pure Joy, My (Non-Anonymous) Ballot For The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, HBOs White House Plumbers Delivers An Absurd Historical Snapshot And A Knockout Performance From Justin Theroux, The Rundown: Ted Lasso Has Created A Delightful Little I Think You Should Leave Conundrum, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. The Whiskey Reviewer further noted that it doesn't offer those drinking it "any surprises," as "there are no twists or particularly subtle nuances." While bourbon can technically come from anywhere in the US, maybe Minnesota should leave it to the experts down in Kentucky. Per American Whiskey Trail, early American whiskey was mostly made by amateurs and sold while it was still young and fiery, so it probably didn't taste all that great. "And it's the best cocktail bourbon out there." Dating back to the 1880s, Four Roses boasts both an unusual history and an unusual way of making its bourbons. And while blended whiskies are fairly common, Four Roses is unusual in that almost all of its expressions are blends: the distillery "uses five proprietary yeast strains and two separate mashbills to develop 10 whiskey recipes." This mixture of grains is known as the mash bill. That said, the quality between a big Kentucky distillerys standard expression and the stuff they put in those plastic bottles can be massive. Reviews such as the one by Bourbon Culturesound off with regard to the ethanol smell and creamed corn taste, but according to Reddit users, falling for good marketing and paying upwards of $50 is what really grinds their grain. With Larceny's slogan"So smooth, it's criminal," you might unintentionally reach for your wallet, you know, just to make sure it's still there. Old Fitzgerald Prime (80 proof, $14) Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon, with a soft, smooth, mildly sweet flavor. So you'd think that this boozy elixir would, you know, at least have some nice legs on it. Benchmark Old No. If you're looking for a top-notch bourbon and willing to search high and low to get your hands on a bottle, W.L. That's how Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea was born. This is fine on the front end but completely disappears on the back end/finish into a watery mishmash. Beyond these basics, the details of bourbon's history are murky. Numerous bourbon brands trace their roots to the 1800s or earlier. While not as big a name as Jim Beam or Wild Turkey, it's a widely distributed brand that you can serve at a big party without breaking the bank, yet won't be ashamed to mix into a cocktail for that bourbon snob friend. It's not the pleasant aspects either, it's more like licking an oak plank," wrote Thirty One Whiskey. The brand has even purchased its first warehouse for storage and is well on their way to filling it all up. Maybe it's a sign that this bourbon needs to be locked away. Because theyre not going to just dump a barrel of whiskey into the gutter, right? The taste has a grilled corn-on-the-cob vibe with a hint of pepper and butter next to small doses of citrus and soft oak thats all a little muted by an alcohol burn. Until then, it was famed for being the drink of choice of President Grant, back in the 1870s which gave it a lot to hang its hat on as a brand. Price: ~$50. Jim Beam may not be practicing the world's most ambitious blending and distilling, but for a brand to have lasted over 200 years, it must be doing something right. Ranking The Big Bourbon Brands, From Worst To Best. This whiskey embraces a high-rye mash bill thats comprised of 68 percent corn, 28 percent rye, and four percent malted barley which Bulleit has been distilling themselves since 2017. If you want to stick with Diageo, however, then Id recommend getting yourself some George Dickel Bottled-In-Bond for $40. The bourbon is made from a mash bill of four grainscorn, wheat, rye, and barleyall grown locally. Paste Magazine reports that dissatisfaction with pricing is a universal consumer woe regardless of the bourbon. A1A Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom. After all, this bourbon isn't really a magic bottle. Purchase: $65 Style: Cask-strength high-rye ABV: 61.7% Tasting Notes: Vanilla, orange peel, maple, nutmeg, rye spice Barrell Bourbon Vantage Graham Files, veteran bartender and co-owner of Someday in Portland, stocks Jim Beam in his well and recommends it for the home bar, praising its . Taste your way through the best of the best of America's native spirit. The finish is pretty watery it kind of reminds me of hose water on a hot day with the same beats for vanilla-caramel-corn-and-wood barely peaking in over the proofing water. Bourbon, by definition, has to be at least 51% corn and most distillers we've seen hug that fairly closely. Willet Pot Still is considered a Kentucky straight bourbon, meaning it has been aged a minimum of two years in brand new charred oak barrels, per New Riff Distilling. Imagine the taste of Kentucky bourbon whiskey with the essence and spice of fermented peppers, garlic, and vinegar. While experimenting is cool and all, it's not cool to try and act like the bourbon that has been aging for 24 hours is going to taste just as good as the whiskey that's been aging for five or more years. This is the first bottle of whiskey I ever considered pouring down the drain. And that something is offering up decent bottles at affordable prices. How else can you justify Redditors when they say that "It's bad enough to make you want to curl up into the fetal position and sob like an infant.". The first Booker's Bourbon batch of 2023, Charlie's Batch, is an intense and extra-caramelized delight, one of the best Booker's batches. Meanwhile, SLB Drinks says that the flavor profile "tastes like someone mixed bourbon and maple syrup and then added some artificial sweetener for the hell of it." Remember that old adage, "First the worst, second the best?" Old Grand-Dad doesn't do much for modern-day tasters, since it's only palatable as a mixeror preferably, not at all. Quite frankly, Cascade Hollow Distillery jumped the shark on this one. Photo by David Prince. Over on Ranker folks cast a whopping 54,000 votes, and a clear top ten bourbons emerged. First online real money wager only. greasy meal the next morning to help you with that hangover, Knob Creek's Kentucky Straight Smoked Maple. Micher's 10-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon The 10 years in the barrel were more than enough for Micher's to mature and develop a rich flavor profile. Aged not less than 15 years, George T. Stagg is a rare bottle found only in high-end whiskey bars. It's one of the most complex bourbons on this list, so it makes for a great buy if you like high-rye bourbons. The taste delivers on that and expands into peach cobbler territory with mild hints of vanilla and brown sugar syrup with baking spices. Its a really good mixing bourbon that also works fine in a highball or even on the rocks. Beyond these basics, the details of bourbon's history are murky. A beguiling blend of straight bourbon whiskeys (5, 6, 7 and 10-year-old barrels) distilled and aged in TN, KY and IN, and bottled at cask strength (115.34 proof). The oak aging gives this Bourbon dry and spicy character. While 95% of all bourbon is made in Kentucky, the spirit can be and is crafted elsewhere. Literally tastes like dirt." But Distillerreviewers point out that it has an intense heat, too much cinnamon, and is akin to lighter fluid. Age statements vary, but the latest is a blend of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old whiskey bottled at a cask strength of 111.2 proof (all of the bourbon is barrel-proof). Sipped or mixed, these star-studded faves are bar cart essentials. It sounds comparable to taking a mouthful of whiskey mixed with Listerine (At least you'll kill all the germs, right?). That's what the folks at Jim Beam call it when you take a big gulp of bourbon and move it around your mouth to get all the flavor nuances (via The Bourbon Room). Its flagship product, Wild Turkey 101, is a classic bourbon expression, with a typical mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley. Top 10 bourbons over the last 12 months (based on number of units sold): Bulleit is the bestselling bourbon, according to Drizly. Kentucky Gentlemen is brought to you by the Sazerac Company (known for Fireball,Myer's Rum, and Southern Comfort, to name a few), and distilled by the seventh-largest distillery in the world,Barton/1792 Distillery(via Whiskey University). Knob Creek. Established in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery is the creator of Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon, a small batch, wheated bourbon that comes out three times a year.
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