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If you're new to bourbon, learning what to drink and how to drink it can be intimidating. Fortunately, there's no wrong way to enjoy it. "The most important thing is that they have a good time," said Jeremy Johnson, owner of Meta cocktail bar in Louisville, Kentucky. "Bourbon's all about having a good time."
To find the best bourbons, I traveled the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, toured eight distilleries, talked to countless experts, and tried over 100 bourbons. While our picks are based on expert recommendations and several tastings, preferences are subjective and personal. "Everybody's palate is different," said Henry Kwok, owner of Henry's Place, a bourbon bar in Okemos, Michigan. "It's really subjective."
We curated our list so that the bourbons below will appeal to most drinkers. This is an excellent place to start if you want to get into bourbon — we also recommend checking out our beginner's guide to drinking bourbon.
Our top picks for the best bourbon
Best bourbon overall: Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon - See at Total Wine
Best under $20: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - See at Total Wine
Best under $30: Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon - See at Total Wine
Best mid-range: Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon - See at Total Wine
Best for Old Fashioneds: Old Forester 100 Bourbon - See at Total Wine
Best sipping: Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon - See at Reserve Bar
Best wheated: Maker's Mark Bourbon - See at Reserve Bar
Best Tennessee whiskey: George Dickel Superior Recipe No. 12 Tennessee Whisky - See at Total Wine
Best barrel proof: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon - See at Reserve Bar
Best non-Kentucky: Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon - See at Caskers
Best overall
Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon has smooth, complex aromas and flavors, plus a delicious finish that makes for an outstanding neat drink.
- Complex and delicious nose, palate, and finish
- Aged 10 years
- Excellent mid-priced bottle that's easy to find in stores
- Low proof isn't ideal for cocktails
Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve line started when master distiller Eddie Russell wanted to showcase his craft while honoring his father, Jimmy Russell, the master distiller before him. Introduced in 2001, Russell's Reserve 10 Year was the first in the line, which has grown to include several different ages and mash bills. The 10 Year is a "Kentucky straight bourbon." To receive this designation, a bourbon must be distilled in Kentucky and aged for at least two years.
The auburn-colored Russell's Reserve 10 Year danced on my tongue when I first tasted it. My taste buds pinged with sweet caramel and spices, like nutmeg. It reminded me of pumpkin pie. The nose is similarly complex, giving maple syrup, cinnamon, butterscotch, citrus, and a hint of vanilla. I really like the long, smooth, delicious finish.
Fred Minnick, author of "Bourbon Curious," recommends Russell's Reserve 10 Year as a great value bourbon. Johnson suggested it as a delicious, accessible alternative to Pappy Van Winkle.
Since this is only 90 proof, it may not be ideal for cocktails if you want the bourbon flavor to come through strongly.
Best under $20
Costing less than $20 a bottle, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon has a smooth, well-rounded taste that works just as well in a cocktail as it does on its own.
- Versatile and affordable
- Well-rounded and smooth
- Pleasant long and dry finish
- Flavor isn't as complex as more expensive bottles
Evan Williams is one of the many value brands produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. Though bottled-in-bond (BIB) is becoming increasingly popular at other distilleries, Heaven Hill is best known for its BIB bourbons. The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 was created to keep contaminants out of bourbon, a significant problem at the time. To receive the BIB designation, a bourbon must be the product of one distillery, one distiller, and one distillation season; aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least 4 years; and bottled at 100 proof.
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, commonly referred to as Evan Williams White Label, has a tawny appearance. The nose is strongly vanilla and caramel with a bit of oak. The vanilla dominated the palate along with a smokiness, but it didn't seem as complex as pricier bourbons. I especially liked the long, warm finish. This is a smooth drinker.
"It's such an easy drinker," said Kwok. "You could drink it neat. You could drink it on the rocks. It could be a mixer. It's pretty versatile. This is a nice, easy summer sipper in my mind."
"Evan Williams BIB is a fantastic bourbon," said Johnson. "The fact that it is under $20 is pretty incredible. I've got it in the well at Meta, and it has been there since we opened nine years ago."
Along with Wild Turkey 101, Evan Williams BIB had the highest average rating in our blind taste test. Testers described it as well-rounded and smooth.
Best under $30
If you want complex flavor without breaking the bank, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon offers a pleasant burst of flavor while remaining smooth.
- Balances smoothness and complexity
- Affordable and relatively easy to find
- Spice and citrus notes make it suitable for Old Fashioneds
- Bold spices may be too much for some
If Evan Williams BIB isn't complex enough for you, Wild Turkey 101 is another great value option that's only about $6 more. It's been on the market for over 60 years and is known for its bold, spicy flavors, thanks to its rye content. Most bourbons are made with rye, but Wild Turkey 101 has more than most.
Wild Turkey 101 has a tawny appearance similar to Evan Williams. Vanilla and baking spices come through on the nose and stay true on the palate. It provides the perfect balance of smoothness and bite, just enough so you know you're drinking good bourbon. The flavors that stand out are caramel and nutmeg. More flavors come out in the lingering finish, including orange peel. I could see this being a good bourbon for Old Fashioneds.
"There's not much better than the 'Kickin' Chicken,'" said Johnson referring to Wild Turkey's nickname. "It's got a great spice level. There's enough complexity to keep it interesting."
Minnick also recommended Wild Turkey 101 as a great value bourbon.
In my blind taste test, Evan Williams BIB and Wild Turkey 101 received the highest average score. Testers liked how smooth it was while offering intense flavors, though one tester found the bite overwhelming.
Best mid-range
Henry McKenna Single Barrel is an outstanding sipping bourbon for drinkers who prefer a mix of sweetness and bite.
- Sweet, honey-like flavor
- Aged 10 years
- Excellent sipping bourbon
- Expensive and hard to find
- Might be too harsh for some palates
Henry McKenna Single Barrel is another Heaven Hill BIB bourbon. Named after an Irish immigrant who adapted his family's whiskey recipe to the grains available in Kentucky, Henry McKenna Single Barrel has won several whiskey competitions, including Best in Show Whiskey at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
McKenna's tawny coloration is lighter than its 10-year aging would suggest. The vanilla, caramel, and oak aromas come through. The charred oak is especially strong upon first taste. A honey-like sweetness also greets your taste buds. I found it smooth, and the spices weren't too sharp. The finish was long, sweet, and had pleasant spice levels. I like sipping this bourbon because of the flavor journey it takes you on.
Johnson and Kwok both liked Henry McKenna, but they expressed sticker shock over its current price of about $70.
Henry McKenna finished in the middle of the pack in our taste test. Several testers liked the sweet and honey-like flavor, though two were struck by the harsh alcohol bite on the palate.
Best for Old Fashioneds
With its high-rye mash bill and combination of spice and smoothness, Old Forester 100 is the ideal bourbon to use in an Old Fashioned.
- Great in Old Fashioneds
- Smooth flavor with a strong spice level
- Affordable
- Spice level may be overpowering for some
A basic Old Fashioned has five ingredients: bourbon, simple syrup or a sugar cube, Angostura bitters, ice, and a twist of orange peel for garnish. In our guide to bourbon cocktails, our expert recommends using a high-rye bourbon. With its 18% rye content, Old Forester 100 fits the bill.
On its own, this auburn-colored bourbon gives off butterscotch and anise aromas. The butterscotch continues to the palate and brings toasted oak, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It goes down smooth and has a medium, spicy finish. The spices make it a good choice for an Old Fashioned.
Old Forester 100 is Johnson's go-to bourbon for Old Fashioneds. "It's balanced," he said. "For whatever reason, I just think it really gets along with the Angostura and a little bit of Demerara Syrup."
While Johnson notes that the spice level is decent yet not over the top, some of our testers found the spice to be overpowering.
Minnick calls Old Forester 100 "a fantastic bourbon," though he prefers Old Forester 1920 for sipping. Kwok was also a fan of the 1920.
Best sipping
Though it's getting harder to find, Knob Creek 12 Year Bourbon has an impressive, spice-forward flavor profile that makes it great to sip on its own.
- Complex, balanced flavors
- Long, warm finish
- Incredible mouthfeel
- Pricier than our other picks
When samples of Knob Creek arrived for me to test, I had already tasted several bourbons and was beginning to wonder what made a bourbon great. After one sip of Knob Creek 12 Year, it was clear: This was a special bourbon.
Knob Creek 12 Year is darker than most bourbons; deep mahogany. The nose reminds me of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The spices struck me first as the bourbon hit my tongue and slowly melted. I appreciated the complex layers that unfolded with a strong oak palate and hints of cocoa. The finish was warm and lingered with plenty of spice.
Kwok and Johnson thought the 12 Year was an excellent choice but noted that it's getting harder to find on shelves due to increased demand. Kwok recommended the Knob Creek Single Barrel if you can't find the 12 Year.
Minnick is a fan of Knob Creek 9 Year. As a judge at spirits competitions, "I've seen Knob Creek beat Pappy Van Winkle and all these incredible, highly-limited allocated products," he said. Knob Creek 9 Year finished in the top half of our blind taste test.
Best wheated
Maker's Mark started with bread, of course. Bill Samuels bought the Burks' Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, in 1953 and did the predictable – just not in a predictable way.
- Sweet and smooth flavor
- Found easily in liquor stores and online
- Pairs well with most foods
- Low proof and lack of rye may make it unsuitable for cocktails
While most bourbon is made with at least 51% corn and varying percentages of rye and malted barley, wheated bourbons use wheat instead of rye in their mash bill. This tends to lead to sweeter, more caramel-forward bourbons.
Maker's Mark uses soft red winter wheat in its bourbons. I tested the Maker's Mark, Maker's Mark 46, 101, and Cask Strength. They all had a sweet nose and palate. As you go up in proof, the flavor becomes harsher, with the Cask Strength producing an intense burn that might appeal to folks craving barrel-proof bourbons. I recommend choosing the Maker's with your favorite proof. Maker's Mark is your best bet if you're new to bourbon.
My favorite was the 101. It had a maple syrup nose. The taste was smooth and smoky, with hints of cinnamon. I especially liked the long, mellow finish.
Minnick recommends Maker's Mark as one of the only bourbons that comes remotely close to tasting like Pappy Van Winkle. He also noted that it pairs well with most foods.
"Maker's Mark is probably the best wheated family," said Kwok. "It's great. It's got that sweetness, that mellowness."
Maker's Mark 101 finished last in our blind taste test, but Kwok suggested that's because we were comparing it to bourbons made with rye. "Wheaters are more subtle," he said. "Ryes have overpowering notes, spicy/peppery, so it's not comparing apples to apples."
Best Tennessee whiskey
George Dickel Superior Recipe No. 12 Whisky brings depth, range, and personality with a deep, assertive flavor and remarkably smooth finish.
- Delicious sipper
- Unique mouthfeel
- High-end, but affordable
- Short, light finish
- Low proof and rye content may make it unsuitable for cocktails
While it's a source of contention in the bourbon community, Tennessee whiskey is legally bourbon. In addition to meeting all of the requirements for bourbon, Tennessee whiskey must be made in Tennessee and filtered through sugar maple charcoal. These additional requirements don't disqualify Tennessee whiskey from being a bourbon.
George Dickel Superior Recipe No. 12 was the best of the varieties I tried. It's tawny in appearance and has a very light nose evocative of apple pie and cocoa. The flavor hits the back of the tongue first and works its way up. The notes that stood out were charred oak and vanilla. The finish was mild, short, and smoky. Overall, it's a delicious sipper.
I tried Dickel upon recommendations from Kwok and Johnson. "The Dickel No. 12 recipe is best. It's just fantastic. I mean, all their products are really good."
Best barrel proof
With up to 140 proof, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is not for the faint of heart, yet it provides strong sweet flavors from nose to finish.
- Provides a strong ensemble of flavors
- Sweet notes throughout
- High proof and aged 12 years
- High alcohol content may be overpowering for some drinkers
- Expensive
Before bourbons are bottled, they're usually "proofed down," which is simply adding water to lower the alcohol percentage. This isn't the case with "barrel proof" and "cask strength" bourbons. These high-proof bourbons are great for cocktails when you want to taste the alcohol, but many bourbon aficionados drink them neat when they need a stiff drink.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the best of the barrel-proof bourbons. Typically bottled at between 120 and 140 proof, it has a deep mahogany appearance. Caramel is most potent in the nose, followed by toasted oak, apple, and orange. The intense palate is mainly sweet: vanilla, butterscotch, and caramel. The finish is short, sweet, and warm.
Minnick recommended Elijah Craig Barrel Proof as an excellent bourbon to hunt since it tastes superb and isn't always available in liquor stores. Kwok said it's his favorite barrel-proof. He especially liked the sweetness and dominant flavors in the higher-proof batches.
Best non-Kentucky
Distilled in Indiana and aged in Nevada, Smoke Wagon Small Batch is an outstanding non-Kentucky bourbon featuring complex flavors, an exquisite mouthfeel, and a pleasant finish.
- Features complex flavors
- An excellent option for cocktails
- Delicious finish
- Expensive
- Not available in some states
According to the Kentucky Distillers' Association, 95% of the world's bourbon comes from Kentucky. Over the border in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, MGP produces a sizable share of the remaining 5%. If you haven't heard of MGP, it's because it contract distills and ages most of its bourbon, which is sold under private labels.
Smoke Wagon is made from MGP distillate, but Nevada H&C Distilling Company ages the bourbon, arguably the most crucial bourbon-making step. I tried Smoke Wagon, Small Batch, and Uncut Unfiltered. The Small Batch was my favorite. Its chestnut color was the lightest of the bourbons I tested. The nose features cherry, vanilla, and oak. The creamy mouthfeel was more potent on the peripheries of the tongue with smoky oak and caramel flavors. The pleasant warm finish lingered.
Minnick, Johnson, and Kwok highly regarded Smoke Wagon. When I suggested another brand for this category, Johnson and Kwok steered me to Smoke Wagon.
Another testament to Smoke Wagon's quality was how quickly we emptied the bottle after the taste test. By the night's end, Smoke Wagon was the only non-Kentucky bourbon our tasters finished off.
What else we tested
I tasted more than 100 bourbons for this guide, and several are suitable alternatives if you can't find our picks online or in the store.
Buffalo Trace brands: Buffalo Trace makes some of the best bourbons in the world, including Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, EH Taylor, Stagg Jr., Blanton's, and my personal favorite, Weller. Unfortunately, demand has made these bourbons difficult to find in stores (and some, like Pappy, nearly impossible). So, we didn't include them in our guide, but if you find one of them on shelves in a liquor store at a reasonable price, I encourage you to try it.
Jack Daniels: I tested Jack Daniel's 10 Year and Bonded for this guide. I loved the 10-year. It was light on the tongue, smoky and sweet. Unfortunately, you can no longer find it in stores. The Bonded is an excellent option worth trying. It isn't as complex as the 10-year, but it's still a good sipper.
Balcones Texas Pot Still: This has a unique flavor profile. The distiller describes a nose of "oiled glove" and a palate of "leather," which doesn't sound appealing, yet I was drawn to it. This is the one if you want a truly one-of-a-kind, complex bourbon.
Four Roses: I toured the Four Roses Distillery and tried its four main bourbons: Four Roses, Small Batch, Single Barrel, and Small Batch Select. My favorite was the Small Batch Select, with its many layers of flavors, including oak, chocolate, and campfire. However, it's pricey.
Bulleit 10 Year: This rye bourbon is an excellent option for cocktails or on its own. I liked the balance of charred oak and vanilla and the medium smoky finish.
Woodford Reserve: I appreciated the ensemble of flavors in this one: coconut and oak with hints of caramel and chocolate. The nose matched the palate, and the finish was lingering and smooth.
Widow Jane 10 Year: Blended in New York from bourbons distilled in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee, Widow Jane has a distinct, rich flavor profile. When you sip it, this pricey bourbon coats your tongue with a cherry and maple sweetness plus almond notes. The charred oak comes out in a long, mild finish.
Grand Traverse: I first liked this high-rye Michigan bourbon, but its strong corn flavor started to wear on me. It reminds me of sitting around on a hot summer day, shucking corn, while an apple pie bakes. The finish was long and smooth. If you want a truly unique bourbon, give this a try.
Jim Beam: I liked cooking with Jim Beam. It's inexpensive, yet it imparts a distinct bourbon flavor to pies, glazes, candied bacon, and more. Jim Beam Black was my favorite of the three expressions I tried, but the flavor was pretty basic. Still, it finished third in our taste test.
Larceny Barrel Proof: If you're looking for a great wheated bourbon, pick up Larceny Barrel Proof. This Heaven Hill brand tastes great. It's strong and sweet and gives you a long, warm "Kentucky hug" finish.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond: This new 7-year BIB bourbon seems to be flying off the shelves. I enjoyed the ensemble of flavors. Vanilla, caramel, and honey come through the light nose and palate. While the sweetness dominates, charred oak is also present. The finish is long and smooth.
Uncle Nearest 1884: This small-batch Tennessee whiskey has notes of apple, vanilla, and maple on the nose. The mouthfeel is incredibly dry, as if it evaporates on the tongue. It also brings a lot of spice to the palate, suggesting it could be suitable for cocktails.
Castle & Key: The Castle & Key bourbon didn't make our guide because you can't find it anywhere. The distillery didn't even have samples when I visited. The brand sent me samples, and I thought the bourbon was a good sipper. The flavor reminded me of sticky toffee pudding. Castle & Key is relatively new and will likely have more barrels reach maturity soon.
FEW: Distilled in Illinois, FEW is a sweet bourbon with an intense maple nose and vanilla tasting notes. The finish was short and mellow. I'd want something more complex at this price point, but this is a good option for drinkers who want a smooth, straightforward bourbon.
How we test bourbon
For this guide, I also consulted
- Fred Minnick, author of "Bourbon Curious" and judge at several whiskey competitions, including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- Jeremy Johnson, owner of Meta, a Louisville, Kentucky cocktail bar
- Henry Kwok, owner of Henry's Place, an Okemos, Michigan bourbon bar
I also spent 5 days on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail touring eight distilleries and talking to experts along the way, including master distillers.
I tasted over 80 bourbons and assessed each based on their color, nose, palate, and finish, assigning a score to the overall taste.
Lastly, I enlisted the help of 11 friends who self-identify as "bourbon lovers." I chose 10 expert-recommended bourbons and put them in Mason jars labeled A to J, so participants were blind to the bourbon they were tasting. I had them rate each of the bourbons on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is "disgusting," 5 is "good," 6 is "very good," 7 is "great," and 10 is "unsurpassable." Here are the bourbons and their ratings:
| Bourbon | Average rating |
| Evan Williams Bottled in Bond | 7 |
| Wild Turkey 101 | 7 |
| Jim Beam Black | 6.3 |
| Knob Creek 9 Year | 6.2 |
| Woodford Reserve | 6.1 |
| Old Forester 100 | 6.1 |
| Henry McKenna Single Barrel | 6 |
| Bulleit 10 Year | 5.9 |
| Four Roses Small Batch | 5.8 |
FAQs
What's the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon. For a whiskey to be considered a bourbon, it must meet specific legal requirements. The chief requirements are that it be made of at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak barrels.
Additionally, distillation and bottling must occur in the United States. The bottled bourbon must be at least 80 proof. The distillate cannot be more than 160 proof and can't enter the barrel at more than 125 proof.
If a whiskey doesn't meet these requirements, it cannot be called bourbon.
Check out our full article on the difference between whiskey and bourbon.
What's the best way to drink bourbon?
The knee-jerk response is "however you most enjoy it." There are no rules to bourbon drinking, but the most common ways are neat (poured into the glass at room temperature, nothing added), on the rocks (with ice), and with a bit of water.
I recommend first trying a bourbon neat. From there, you can decide how you want it. A little water, just a few drops, will unlock new flavors, especially in higher-proof bourbons. A large ice cube will cool the bourbon and melt slowly to avoid diluting it too much.
Generally, though, bourbon drinkers frown upon shooting bourbon or mixing it with soda.
Check out our full article on how to drink bourbon.
How is bourbon made?
Bourbon is made with grains, primarily corn. The milled grains are cooked to make a porridge-like mash. The mash is fermented for a few days and then distilled. The distillate is then put into charred oak barrels and aged.
Bourbon must be at least 51% corn. Almost all bourbons contain malted barley, and most have rye or wheat as a secondary grain. Once the ground grains are mixed with water and cooked, the sour mash is cooled before entering a fermenter where yeast is added. The yeast feeds on the sugars in the mash, turning them into alcohol. The distilleries I visited ferment the mash for three or four days.
The fermented mash is essentially beer. The "beer" goes to the still from the fermenters, where it is heated to extract the alcohol. The distilled spirit is known as "white dog." The white dog goes into new charred oak barrels and is aged for between a few months and several years.
When the aged bourbon is ready, it's filtered and usually "proofed down" by adding purified water to lower the alcohol percentage.
What is a bourbon mash bill?
Bourbon is made with different grains. The grain percentages used to create a bourbon make up the mash bill. All bourbons have a mash bill with at least 51% corn. There's also usually malted barley and either rye or wheat.
Most bourbons use rye as a secondary grain. According to Minnick, rye typically imparts different spices to the nose and palate of a bourbon. For instance, high rye bourbons tend to have cinnamon notes.
Minnick has found that high barley bourbons offer more spicy nutmeg notes. While wheated bourbons tend to impart caramel, though charred oak barrels give all bourbons a degree of caramel flavoring.
If you are looking for new bourbons, the mash bill is an excellent place to start. Look for bourbons that have a similar mash bill to those you like.
What are the best bourbon cocktails?
Three cocktails that are traditionally made with bourbon are the Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Mint Julep. For details on making these and other bourbon cocktails, check out our article on 13 must-try bourbon cocktails.
