We partnered with @theglenlivet to bring you a definitive guide. Within its smooth, warm body of golden brown, a spectrum of flavours swirl. To qualify specifically as bourbon, the whiskey must contain a mash bill (i.e. This 10-year offering is one of their best and a big favorite here at Whiskeybon. How about the fact that this is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby? $42, Virtually any product from King’s County can be hard to track down, so expect to do some work to get a bottle of this one, especially if you can’t readily get yourself to the Brooklyn distillery. There’s the mandatory corn majority of 51 percent, but the rest of the mash bill is filled by millet, a grain mostly found in Asia and Africa. Even if you don’t want to drink it often, the bottle looks mighty fine on any home bar, as the unique bottle shape and iconic horse and jockey topper are hard to miss. Undoubtedly Jim Beam is one of the world’s top bourbon brands; and as such, the label does occasionally release something truly special, such as this Signature Craft 12 Year statement. Manufacturer: Kirin Brewery Company The corn used gives it that classic caramel sweetness that isn’t really found in any Scotch whisky, sweet Scotch is a usually different kind of sweetness more akin to honey. The flavors have gotten more time to mature and develop and you’re getting a richer, more attractive color palette, both without having to leave the comfort of the Michter’s name. $25, You want Pappy but can’t get Pappy. Note: Purchasing products through our links may earn us a portion of the sale, which supports our editorial team’s mission. In fact, given the prices of 23-year-old Pappy these days, coupled with the fact that we may never see 25-year again, it almost makes sense. According to legend, the label was initially a way for Kentucky’s most celebrated distillers to offer limited edition releases from select barrels. Indeed, what’s better than a hobby that combines the thrill of the hunt with an array of flavours and the warm touch of inebriation? A great cause and a genuine contender for best bourbon whiskey. We’ve listed the best bourbon whiskeys in no particular order below. That’s all we’ve got. Multiply that by 10 and that’s how good this is. For those craving a full-flavored bourbon, this gold medal-winning reserve bottling is matured in barrels given a truly intense "alligator" char and bottled at 110 proof so you really get to experience the personality of each barrel. Nowhere is that more evident than with the Double Oaked statement, a masterpiece of rich texture and diverse flavour. In no specific order here are our choices: This is one of the contenders for the best pound for pound bourbon in the world (see below to find out if it won). It is just a total flavor assault on the senses and a cut above anything else we’ve tried in our opinion. For an all-around, crowd-pleasing bourbon, it's hard to go wrong with this corn, barley, and rye mash bottle. This is the cheapest bourbon on the list, but it may end up being the one you work hardest to find. It’s just so bold and brash with an awesome flavor of course but it’s the character that really makes it stand out. World's Billionaires. . We know people who have sworn off every other bourbon and they like to remind us why every time they open a new bottle. If you are using this list to find yourself a nice bottle, we’re fairly confident you won’t be disappointed by any of the choices, but you should probably have a read of the following: This article is aimed at everyone but we didn’t want to put out a list of the best bourbons in the world and for them to all be ridiculously expensive or rare to the point where you’d have to sell a kidney to get hold of one. Oh, that’s a tough one – we love Old Grandad 114 or Old Grandad Bonded. Unchillfiltered, uncut and straight from the barrel, a very powerful bourbon that takes no prisoners. That wouldn’t be the wrong choice, but we’re going with something a little more interesting and with more of a story to tell when you pour someone a glass. If you haven’t already, add it to your list of bourbons to try. It was a close call between this and the Antique 107 but this is refined and sophisticated and that’s what edged it. For most enthusiasts, Jim Beam’s standard white label bourbon is as ubiquitous as it is unmemorable. © 2020 Man of Many Pty Ltd – Sydney, Australia, De’Longhi’s La Specialista Maestro is an Aussie-First Espresso Machine, The Secret Behind the Perfect Old Fashioned, Shinola's Ice Monster Dive Watch is a Stone Cold Classic, Forget Underarm Sweat Stains With This Innovative T-Shirt Company, Bring the Desert Home with Cactus Glasses Set, Spirit of the Month March ’18 – George T. Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof Bourbon, Leica Q2 Monochrom Marks New 'Evolution' of Black and White Photography, Sean Connery's Original Bond Pistol is Up For Sale, Blancpain and Relais & Châteaux Make for a Perfect Match, Sydney is Scoring a Floating Cinema in Darling Harbour This Summer, Every PS5 Game and XBOX Series X Game Available Right Now. $55, With numerous awards under its belt, Blanton’s—or, “Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon,” as it was originally known—is deserving of a spot on any Bourbon lover’s bar. Aged exclusively in the famous Warehouse C (built and used by the colonel himself back in the late 1800s), the spirit’s palate deftly balances oak, tobacco, sweetness and spice, thereby representing everything that great bourbon should be and more. Origin: Kentucky, USA. Find it in most markets for around $50. This s the epitome of a “flavor bomb”. When it comes to the world’s top bourbons, we prefer the ones that deliver big, bold flavours, hence the frequency of higher proofs. While everything from ingredients, equipment, climate, distillation methods, and more can play a role when distinguishing one bourbon from the next, most good bourbons are the result of proper aging. Assuming you’re among the few and lucky men who can actually score a sip, expect a sweet and leathery stunner that goes down super smooth and lingers long on the palate. It happens. We still say it’s worth it, as do a legion of experts and enthusiasts alike. Bourbon, by definition, has to be at least 51% corn and most distillers we’ve seen hug that fairly closely. Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails. Also, what makes for good bourbon whiskey? Super affordable and tastes like a Snickers bar.”, Missing this view already. As with all single barrel bourbons, this one can vary from one bottle to the next, but a premium tier of balance and complexity most definitely persists. There’s a burn, hell it has an ABV of around 70%, but it isn’t like taking a flamethrower to your tongue. Manufacturer: Beam Distilling Company The reason is the grains they use. For those drawn to the peppery flavors of rye, this high-rye bourbon is sure to please. Finding the best bourbon is a lifelong endeavor. We are big Stagg fans. Manufacturer: Sazerac Company It will be pretty damn hard to find, however, so if you have the opportunity to try it, do it, and if not, try to at least sample the standard Black Maple Hill expression. On the off chance that you can actually score a dram (or a bottle), expect layer upon layer of deep, unforgettable flavour from every sip. Exploring the wide world of bourbon whiskey–not to mention trying the best bourbons–is among the most rewarding hobbies an adult male can pursue. Expect to pay multiple thousands of dollars. Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. Is it worth the price tag or is it just hype? Containing upwards of 1,500 individual bottle reviews, his annual Whisky Bible is a guide to the good, bad and ugly of the whiskey world. At a solid 110 proof, it’s a non-chill-filtered bourbon aged in extra-charred American oak casks, imbuing the whiskey with added vanilla and caramael notes. #Whiskey #Whisky #Dram #Singlemalt #Bourbon #Liquor #Cocktail #Cocktails #Foodie #Drinks #Drinkstagram #Bushmills #JohnnieWalker #AmericanWhiskey #Wine #Rum #Gin #Vodka #Beer #CraftBeer #Bar #Bars #Club #Scotch #Bartender #Jameson #Bourbon #HudsonBabyBourbon, A post shared by Irish And Whiskey ☘️+ (@livethedram) on Oct 5, 2018 at 7:58pm PDT, Nikki McCutcheon, Beverage director at Moxy Times Square Hotel in New York City, “What’s my favorite budget bourbon for winter sipping? A post shared by Man of Many (@manofmanytastes) on Nov 7, 2018 at 4:44pm PST. WIN! Here are Murray’s picks for the best bourbons of 2019 (find the full list of winners here). They aren't kidding when they call this Kentucky bourbon small batch—each batch creates a maximum of 20 barrels. Origin: Louisville, Kentucky. Manufacturer: Brown-Forman A genuine top-shelf bourbon. Obviously, this will vary depending on where you are located but we’ve tried to pick bottles that are usually on general sale in both the US and UK. Manufacturer: Brown-Forman I got this… . Well, this is a list of our personal preferences for what we enjoy the most but many of the choices do correlate positively with popular opinion. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is no exception to the rule. This most commonly occurs when the distillate isn’t aged for a long enough period of time, or when an expert isn’t overseeing the whole process, to begin with. , so their bourbon is a natural addition to this bucket list. We don’t have the funds to purchase a lot of those kinds of bottles anyway and I’m sure most people reading this don’t either. Take a deep breath and relax. Know you like the taste but always wanted to find out more about what makes a Single Malt Scotch Whisky so damn tasty? It does not affect the price you pay. This is a little more expensive than others on the list but I’ve tried versions 2015-2018 and they are all consistently excellent. The first bourbon to be distilled in New York makes this list for its high corn mash bill, at 90% corn and 10% malted barley. Watch How Whisky is Made Especially at these prices! Master’s Keep is a limited-edition series of unique Wild Turkey whiskeys put out whenever Eddie Russell darn-well pleases, and it’s quickly become a favorite in the Wild Turkey portfolio. The Best Whiskeys In The World, According To The World Whiskies Awards ... on Jan 17, 2019 at 4:49pm PST. But nowadays we're living in a bourbon renaissance, as sophisticated drinkers have started adding bourbon to their bar cart essentials. Named after its own creator, Booker Noe (grandson to Jim Beam), Booker’s was the first mainstream label to offer drinkers a taste of pure, uncut bourbon. Don’t take our word for it; Four Roses Single Barrel has won medals at the Denver International Spirits Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition along with being named an Ultimate Recommendation at the Ultimate Spirits Competition. Read the full review here. There’s the mandatory corn majority of 51 percent, but the rest of the mash bill is filled by millet, a grain mostly found in Asia and Africa. As a result, there’s going to be some heat present on every sip, the kind of which you can feel in your chest. Origin: Kentucky, USA. The main ingredient for bourbon is corn and other grains are used in varying quantities. . For a truly classic taste, turn to this timeless bottle from the Bourbon Trail.