Would you believe Kentucky produces about 95% of the world's bourbon? That means there's a lot
to choose from. Do you reach for the Maker's Mark, or the Wild Turkey? Or something else?
Keep watching for the best bourbons from the state with the pure limestone water.
"It's too good not to be used in good bourbon.
Which may be why there are two barrels of bourbon for every person who lives here."
As far as recognizable bourbon bottles go, Blanton's Single Barrel may just be one of
the easiest to spot in the industry. This short, rounded bottle is topped by a horse.
If you've ever shopped for this bourbon, you'll quickly notice that not every horse is the same:
There are eight in total, each of a racehorse with a jockey on its back.
When lined up, the stoppers display a sequence of the horse running.
While the horse stoppers have only been around since 1999, this award-winning bourbon was first
introduced in 1984. It was the first Single Barrel Bourbon that the Blanton's brand sold
commercially, and ultimately the first of its kind. A product of the prolific Buffalo Trace
Distillery, this bourbon features notes of vanilla and honey, with corn and nutmeg flavors, too.
Woodford Reserve bourbon is easy to spot on the shelf, thanks to its distinctively stout,
rounded bottle. Their Double Oaked bourbon is also easily recognizable for its flavor,
which has won it a number of awards over the years.
It even earned the highest accolade possible from the American Whiskey Masters in 2018.
The name of this bourbon comes from its unique aging process,
where it is aged twice in separate charred oak barrels. The second barrel is deeply
toasted and then lightly charred. This gives the bourbon a soak in some seriously sweet
oak flavor that's won over the taste buds of many bourbon lovers. Woodford Reserve
Double Oaked features flavors of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, and spices.
Wild Turkey 101 is yet another testament to the fact that a bottle of bourbon doesn't have to
be incredibly expensive to be great. This affordable option is known for its use of
American White Oak barrels that have been deeply charred, giving this bourbon a unique character.
In 2021, Wild Turkey 101 earned a gold award from the Beverage Tasting Institute, a gold medal from
the San Francisco World Spirits Championship, and accolades from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.
This inexpensive yet polished bourbon features the tastes of vanilla and caramel, with notes of
baking spices and oak adding an additional layer of complexity. While this bourbon is
plenty great on its own, it's also quite possibly the perfect choice for an Old Fashioned cocktail.
"No, it's not the only way to do it, but it's ours. And, we trust it."
While classic Maker's Mark has long been a favorite among bourbon aficionados,
the brand produces other bottles that have their own loyal following.
While some varieties and special releases from this distillery may be tough to find,
this variety of Maker's Mark is far easier to procure.
This bottle, a new take on the classic Maker's Mark recipe, was actually the first extension
of the line to be produced since the 1950s. Those who have tasted it describe it as Maker's
Mark with an added layer of spice, which means that if you love the OG Maker's Mark,
you'll definitely want to give this bourbon a try. Luckily for you,
it's available just about anywhere that you'll find a bottle of classic Maker's Mark.
Because all bourbons are whiskeys, Kentucky bourbons often make the list
of the world's best whiskies, though it's not necessarily a clean sweep. In 2021,
just one of the 15 top whiskies named by the International Whiskey Competition was a bourbon.
That would be Black Bourbon Society's Maker's Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2,
which was ranked number 6 on the list and scored an impressive 93.8 out of 100 points.
This special release bottle was produced as a collaboration between the Maker's
Mark Private Selection program and the Black Bourbon Society. The Maker's Mark Private
Selection program allows retail partners to create their own version of Maker's Mark,
but few have gained the popularity or acclaim of this latest release.
1792's name pays a special tribute to the state where it's made, as 1792 was the year that
Kentucky became the 15th state. The distillery where this bourbon is made has a rich history,
too, though it's 100 years shorter. Barton 1792 Distillery was created in 1879,
making it the oldest distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, still fully operational.
Today, the distillery produces eight different versions of 1792.
But in 2020, one in particular stole the show as far as awards go: 1792 Single Barrel.
The "full proof" in this bourbon's name refers to the distinct filtering process that's used.
Instead of a typically chill filtration system, this bourbon passes through only a plate and
frame filter. The result is a robust proof, and a rich, bold flavor. It's bottled at a whopping
125 barrel entry proof. It features a smoky, deep flavor, with notes of vanilla and caramel.
The bottle that this next bourbon comes in is almost as unique as the liquid inside.
The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond bourbon is actually a new edition of an existing liquor.
This new version comes in a decanter that's inspired by the original bottle
that Old Fitzgerald came in during the 1950s.
The original bourbon of that name was first registered in 1884. During Prohibition,
the brand was sold to "Pappy" Van Winkle. Then, Heaven Hill bought it from the Van
Winkle family and began distilling bourbon under the name in Louisville, Kentucky.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond earned a spot on the list of the Top 100 Spirits
2021 by Wine Enthusiast, and features notes of brown sugar and toasted oak,
as well as hints of caramel and butterscotch.
Yet another Buffalo Trace bourbon has made the list of the best Kentucky bourbons of all time.
The list of awards this bourbon has won is long. Notable wins include gold medals at
the 2019 Whiskies of the World competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
This comes with a footnote: This bottle has become increasingly difficult to find for
all but the most dedicated hunters. If you find it, be prepared to pony up. While it
technically retails for $30 a bottle, it's not uncommon to find it marked up to $200 or more.
It's described as thick and buttery, with heavy rich oak flavors and caramel and vanilla notes.
Every year, Whisky Advocate chooses 20 whiskies to name the best of that year. In 2017,
the magazine named Elijah Craig Barrel Proof the top bottle of the year with a score of 94
out of 100. More recently, it was named the second best American Whiskey by Wine Enthusiast in 2019.
The Elijah Craig line of bourbons is named for Reverend Elijah Craig,
an early founding father of bourbon.
He is often considered the first distiller to age his whisky in charred oak barrels.
This bottle is produced without the use of chill filtering and is instead poured straight
into the bottle. The finished product features notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and caramel,
as well as hints of black pepper and cinnamon.
This next bourbon has an origin that's totally unique. W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B.,
which stands for "Craft Your Perfect Bourbon," is the result of a crowd-sourcing campaign.
In 2015, Buffalo Trace Distillery launched a website that allowed fans of the distillery
and bourbon enthusiasts to share their ideas for what makes the perfect bourbon whiskey.
After two years, more than 100,000 people had chimed in.
It turns out that many of the participants shared similar ideas about what makes a great drink,
and this unique bourbon is made from those suggestions. It's based on a wheat recipe and
is aged for 8 years on the top of a warehouse floor before being bottled at 95 proof.
It features notes of citrus and oak with hints of vanilla,
but because this bourbon was a popular limited run, it can be difficult to find today,
limiting its accessibility. If you do find it, make the most of it.
"I think those might be empty."
"No, no, because the ice melts, and then it's like second drink."
When votes came in for the 2020 International Wine and Spirits Competition, judges awarded
Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel an almost-perfect mark of 99 out of 100. It's
also one of the many award-winning bourbons produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery.
This variety is named for Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr., a man who many consider
to be a founding father of the Kentucky bourbon industry. He also fought for the passing of the
Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, which his namesake bourbon now holds itself to over 100 years later.
In addition to the 2020 honor, this bourbon was also named to the Top 100 Spirits List
by Wine Enthusiast in 2015, where it was a clear standout. What's more,
the retail price on this bottle is just $60, making this especially accessible.
This bourbon features sweet notes balanced with the heavier flavors of tobacco and dark spices.
Henry McKenna Single Barrel is Bottled-in-Bond, which means that the bottle meets strict
mandates on aging and bottling. This dictates that the bottle's contents
must have been aged for a minimum of four years, was bottled at exactly 100 proof,
and was created by just one distiller at one distillery, in one season, in a bonded warehouse.
While this designation alone doesn't make this bourbon all that unique,
it's worth noting that Henry McKenna Single Barrel was named the Best Single Barrel
Bourbon up to 10 years in the SF World Spirits Competition in 2021 and 2019.
It was also named the Best in Show Whiskey and Best Bourbon at the same competition in 2019.
One of the things that makes the line of W.L. Weller bourbons special is that they are rumored
to be produced using the same mashbill as the popular Old Rip Van Winkle line of bourbons.
While secrecy at the distillery has kept the truth under wraps, enthusiasts rave that the flavor
profiles and proofs mirror bourbons from the Van Winkle line. If true, then Weller, and W.L. Weller
Antique 107 in particular, is a more affordable option for those looking for high-end bourbon.
W.L. Weller Antique 107, sometimes known as OWA for "Old Weller Antique," earns high scores for
its profile, which features cinnamon spice and oak with hints of vanilla and caramel.
If you're new to the complicated world of bourbon, you might be surprised to learn how
many are actually produced at the same distillery: Buffalo Trace. Located in Frankfort, Kentucky, the
Buffalo Trace Distillery produces a few popular lines of bourbon like the Van Winkle Collection,
Blantons, E.H. Taylor, and, of course, their namesake whiskey.
One Buffalo Trace brand that often flies under the radar is Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel,
and particularly, the 100-year tribute bottle for this line.
This bourbon is named for the distillery's first Master Distiller, Elmer T. Lee.
The single barrel bourbon named in his honor had a special release in 2019, which would have been
Lee's 100th birthday. Proceeds from the release were donated to the VFW post in Frankfort that
Lee was a part of. The combination of the value of this special bottle and the flavor of this bourbon
earn it plenty of five-star reviews — in spite of the fact that it's pretty pricey.
The entire Pappy Van Winkle line of Kentucky bourbons is known as a sort of
difficult-to-find "unicorn" in the industry. The bottles can go for over $2,000 each,
and can still be incredibly difficult to find even if you've got the pockets to meet the
challenge. Rare bottles of this unique bourbon have been known to go for more than $5,000.
For passionate collectors who dream of having their own bottle of "Pappy,"
there are several to choose from. Perhaps the best of this line of
special bourbons is Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 Year.
Several decades ago, the original distillery that produced Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon was sold to
Buffalo Trace. Because the Family Reserve 20 Year bourbon is aged for two decades, enthusiasts and
collectors know that the number of remaining bottles from the early distillery are limited.
There are plenty of bourbons that only true enthusiasts will recognize.
This is not one of them. Maker's Mark's red wax-dipped bottle has been a bar staple since
1958. Maker's Mark's legacy as perhaps the best Kentucky bourbon of all time
is about more than just taste, though there's plenty of that, too. The brand
also brought innovative techniques to the bourbon industry. From the fresh ingredients to the slow,
careful distilling and aging process, Maker's Mark put bourbon on the map.
Long before the popularity of the bourbon trail began to boom,
Maker's Mark was both a distillery and a tourist attraction.
While the distillery has since produced a variety of bourbons, this bourbon is accessible in taste
for those new to the experience, with an inviting and soft flavor. In short,
this bourbon stands out for flavor, accessibility, and its place in distilling history.
"How do you know what a bourbon should taste like if you haven't tasted how it shouldn't?
Well sometimes, you just know.”
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