Ranking The Big Bourbon Brands, From Worst To Best. The Classic Bourbon Lover: Woodford Reserve You should also note that many bourbons are sourced from distillers. Rounding out the list is the classic Bulleit Bourbon. The rest of the nation is just kinda getting to know em, Minnick says. Knob Creek 750ml: $27-32. Benchmark Old No. Made using a single recipe and barrel per bottle, its between seven and eight years old and has more complexity than the Small Batch. Bourbon always has to be aged in new charred oak barrels at no more than 125 proof (or 62.5 percent alcohol), and it's not allowed to include any additives or colorings. Bourbons with double maturation, especially finished in port wine barrels, are huge A tequila drink is made of blue agave plants that have been For centuries, drinking whiskey, Scotch, and vodka has been used as a Don Julio Primavera, a reposado tequila, is a limited offering from the 2-Ingredient Tequila Drinks You Need To Try Now (2023), Knob Creek vs Makers Mark Bourbon: Which is Better? While whiskey can be made anywhere, bourbon can only be made in the United States, according to Distiller, and its mash bill (grain composition) must contain at least 51% corn, a grain native to the Americas. We asked whiskey personality and author Fred Minnick to uncover which bottles of bourbon lining the shelves are actually worthy of your bar cart. It does not carry an age statement. Solera agingcommon in fortified wines like sherry and madeiramakes its way to the bourbon world in this award-winning bottle. Each bottle is designed not only to maintain the look of the 1953 original bottling (even the labels are printed and cut by hand) but the smooth notes of caramel and soft winter wheat are expertly blended for a traditional taste you can count on for decades to come. Our inclusions in this guide are based on real-world testing and firsthand expert feedback, but there are a few new and upcoming bourbons we haven't had a chance to try yet that still warranted a mention. Im going through a bottle a month. The truth may be lost to time, but many of the original family-owned distilleries from the 1700s are still going strong, albeit under new corporate ownership in some cases. Now I gave Basil Hayden a try and I agree, this is a good place to start. Distilled at its namesake Woodford Reserve Distillery located in Versailles . Despite whatever institutional turmoil it has endured, Barton 1792 produces low-key, understated expressions. At the end of the day, it's a blue-collar spirit, made by thirsty farmers, for thirsty farmers. In any case, Widow Jane is finished with fresh water from somewhere. Wilderness Trail does not make subpar whiskey. No, Widow Jane is not Basil Hayden's elderly aunt. In short, as 31 Whiskey stated, "It really does feel like they took a little bit more care with a couple barrels of Old Grand-Dad, dressed it up in a prettier bottle and charged twice as much for the privilege." It's not that Basil Hayden's is a bad whisky, far from it. Quite scotch like in a way. Online Ordering Unavailable. ABV: 45.2% . Woodford Reserve has a creamy smooth texture but has the right level of heat for good bourbon. So if you've ever enjoyed bourbon from Maker's Mark or Jim Beam, know that you've experienced a taste of early American history. It is available everywhere and thus resistant to the price gouging associated with brands like Buffalo Trace. Like in-state rivals Jack Daniel's, the brand is keen to remind drinkers that the two are not the same (even though they kind of are). Explore menu, see photos and read 879 reviews: "Wow, what an overall experience. Unlike many bourbons which aim for around 90 proof, Knob Creek hits shelves at 100 proof for a full flavor that won't get dulled down in your favorite cocktail (though it's equally delicious sipped neat, especially for those who want to test the waters of the cask-strength trend). Woodford Reserve straight bourbon costs around $40 for a 750ml and is cheaper than Basil Haydens 750ml bottle costs about $46. According to 31 Whiskey, the brand has its origins in the 1940s, when a liquor wholesaler picked up a bottle of nameless bourbon from a distillery he dealt with and took it to share on a turkey hunt. You can expect to pay well beyond that if youre trying to buy one from another source, and the few that weve seen left on retail shelves remain there because of heinous mark-up. Their Barrel Proof Bourbon was named Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate in 2017. The Bourbon Bard lauds it as "the bourbon that made me love the actual taste of bourbon," and Breaking Bourbon called it "instantly likeable and pleasant with notes of caramel, honey, orange, and vanilla" with a nose revealing "an underlying layer of oak and mint." Founded in 2012, the brand is so young the bourbons it produces in its own distillery in upstate New York are not yet sufficiently aged for consumption, according to31 Whiskey. 31 Whiskey called their middle-shelf Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey "a smooth and delicious bourbon" with a balanced mouthfeel and finish. This brand was introduced in 1992 and is named to honor Basil Hayden, the distiller that went against the grain by adding more rye to the mash bill. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Color: It has a golden-brown color feature. Earned gold and double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Wheated: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of wheat (the main grain remains corn). Woodford brings a smoother profile, given its lower price. All content on this website is for informational and educational purposes only. 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. While it has an MSRP of just $40 (and costing half that much just a couple of years ago), its become one of the industrys hottest bottles more recently, and these days market prices hover around $300. Because its not a hype whiskey, doesnt have a famous name and isnt a limited release, it doesnt get talked about but I challenge you to find a bourbon with this much firepower at the price point. This gives Maker's Mark a softer, richer flavor than rye-forward bourbons, with lots of caramel and fruit on the nose, and a pleasant hint of oak, according toBreaking Bourbon. Whether you're looking for a truly unique splurge or searching for the perfect bottle to augment all of your favorite whiskey cocktails, we've got the best bourbon options from the classic to the esoteric that deserve a place in your drinking rotation. If you are new to whiskey it's a great starter. We relied on one of the most-esteemed bourbon experts in America, Fred Minnick. An easy bottle to begin sipping neat, Basil Hayden also works well in whiskey-forward cocktails such as an Old Fashioned or a traditional Kentucky Lemonade. . Clearly, such heritage brands have stood the test of time here's how they fare in comparison with newer players in the bourbon game. But most of all he loved the way it tasted. And this is where brands like Evan Williams come in handy. Still, any bourbon worth a day's drive is worth noticing and worth the top honor on our list. Its a type of pot still used for the redistillation of already-distilled products. Book now at The Highlawn in West Orange, NJ. Elijah Craig's Barrel Proof expressions are regularly in the running for best bottle of the year, according to The Bourbon Bard. I prefer Four Roses over the two, as it has a little more bite to it. Woodford Reserve Master's Collection: Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir Finish. Simply put, Minnick knows bourbon better than almost anyone in America. This peanut note is present in the Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Bookers and even in the Old Grand Dad and the Old Crow! Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here. This bourbon ages for 7 years in one of the few warehouses that uses heat cycling. I want to really sit there and think about it when Im drinking it, Minnick says. Whether it's the softer flavor imparted by the sweet mash (the vast majority of modern bourbon is sour mashed) or the distiller's proprietary "infusion mashing" process or something else entirely, the result is a wicked, wicked pour. $30.00. It was created in honor of Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., who distilled his bourbon with a higher percentage of rye since 1796. But while Buffalo Trace is a blend of barrels from 7- to 9 . But, I seem to head back to the Maker's 46 as my go-to bourbon. In summary, the Basil Haydens looks better than how it tastes. You also get a the roasted peanut note you get in every whiskey crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery. Breaking Bourbon further noted that its smoothness, sweetness, and complexity make it easy and enjoyable to drink for both experienced and novice bourbon tasters. Try These Whiskeys, The Complete Buying Guide to Buffalo Trace Whiskey, The Most Exciting New Bourbon and Whiskeys of 2022, Another Female Whiskey Blender Has Gone Solo, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon. Its a good, inexpensive, wheated everyday sipper.. I bought a bottle of Four Roses Small Batch Select, sort of on a whim, but I don't know enough to know if that's a good choice for them based on what they like. Their releases tend to sell out fast, so snap up a bottle whenever you can find it. Buy Now. There really isn't a price difference with Woodford Reserve vs Knob Creek. Basil Hayden's vs Four Roses Single Barrel: Which Bourbon Wins? Like many distilleries, Barton 1792 has a convoluted history. This one is more of a sipper. [] crafted at the Jim Beam Distillery is present in the Knob Creek; this note is shared by Jim Beam, Basil Haydens, Old Grand Dad, Bookers, Old []. Well, think again this venerable bottom-shelf brand deserves a lot more respect than it's been getting. And while flavorful enough, it's not all that unique, and its high price point makes it a difficult choice to get behind. Basil Hayden's Kentucky Straight Bourbon. We don't believe there is one "best" bourbon, but there are bottles that are best for certain moments. Basil Hayden Toast is perfectly acceptable when judged by its own merits, but it's not how I'd choose to spend $50 in the bourbon aisle. Yes. When it comes to .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}luxurious whiskey, scotch has historically gotten the glory; even Pappy Van Winkle, now one of the most sought-after bottles in the spirits world, once sat ignored on shelves. We had to wait for another 10 years until 2012 when Woodford Reserve gave the world their double oaked offering. It won my American Whiskey of the Year award [in 2018] in a blind tasting, Minnick says. 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. Palate is sweet and spicy yet entirely smooth. Have tried, and enjoyed, the Maker's Cask Strength. Also, it has been the official bourbon of the Derby since 1999. Unlike virtually every other distillery that was active in the U.S. at the time, Old Forester received a special permit to continue producing bourbon during Prohibition. On the nose, it shows the . Bulleit Bourbon. Is Basil Hayden more beginner-friendly than Woodford Reserve? Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. It does not have any off-putting or unsettling notes, making it a good alternative for Basil Hayden. If your idea of a perfect bourbon is a smooth sipper, characterized by delicate aromas of nuts and fruit and gentle on the palate, Old Grand-Dad is most definitely not for you. It was intended from the start to be a premium brand a . This is a sweet and mellow bourbon with the right level of heat that drinkers of all levels will appreciate alike. Especially "small batch" bourbons . This is because of its popularity; the brand simply can't make enough of the stuff to satisfy its thirsty fans. 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