Its also killer if you want to make a $20 Manhattan. But this victory goes to the sister product of Henry McKenna 10-year-old, which won Best Whisky and Best Bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and will compete against McKenna for my Best American Whiskey December 20. #3 barrel char. Medley Brothers bourbon is made by the father and son team of Charles and Sam Medley. Medley also makes a 12 YO expression bottled at 43.4% ABV, which is outstanding. Theres a clear taste of the honey, vanilla, and toffee carrying the sip towards a very subdued spice and oak. New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014. Each of its releases makes clear what went into it distillery location, whiskey age, proof, etc. ABV: 50% This is similar to the various Pappy expressions. ABV: 40% (Read the recap.). Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. Honey and fruit mix with a clear peppery rye note next to a slight hint of oak, apple, and more vanilla. It is bottled without an age statement at 80 proof. Am looking forward to trying some of the others you listed. Relative to Kentucky, theyve been around for a few days. In a whiskey market that's become increasingly fragmented and allocated, Knob Creek's classic small batch bourbon distinguishes itself. A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. With tasting notes that include butterscotch, toffee, caramel and honey, this is one for the sweet tooths. Recently have gotten into bourbons. No, this isnt a single barrel expression. But its so much cheaper that who cares? That includes retailer specific brands. If you come across its charged, barrel-proof older sibling, be sure to pick up a bottle, too.. But it goes into the barrel a 114 proof instead of 125 proof. Distiller.com uses cookies that are essential for us to operate the website and that are helpful for us to improve the services. I cover spirits, the drinks culture and business. 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. 1870 Original Batch is also blended by Marianne Barnes, the protg of Brown-Forman's master I want to really sit there and think about it when Im drinking it, Minnick says. But Evan Williams is a value brand. Redwood Empire Bottled in Bond Rye . The spirit is one of those rare drinks that is loved by both bourbon enthusiasts and amateurs. Retail - $80; Secondary - $250; Old Forester 117 Series High Angel's Share or Warehouse K (375ml) - T3. Been there, done that, feel silly never again. McKenna has a classic bourbon nose of caramel, vanilla and charred oak. Of course, its pretty good, too. Were just sayin. The current distiller is rumored to be Heaven Hill. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. A rich leather note, along with some pepper, emerges at the end and lingers. // < ! Vanilla and toffee are present with a sense of the wheat. Larceny and Maker's Mark can be viewed as offshoot descendants of that distillery due to the connections the labels have with those original three or connections the distillers had with the principal players in that distillery. The other is recipe E and is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. It was thick, and the coating of the glass left a thin crown that dropped tiny, slow-moving tears. Larceny is a brand extension of Heaven Hills Old Fitzgerald line. And its the best cocktail bourbon out there. Four Roses is a highly regarded distillery, with a high-rye mash bill that produces an extra spiciness to go along with its fruity and floral notes, and a concentration on yeast that has been eye-opening for the bourbon world. ABV: 40% After 20 years, they, too, begin to deteriorate- and they do it quickly. At the very least, this experiment is a good way to see how much luck and refinement go into making expensive bourbons worth the price when you can quite literally compare them to the cheaper expressions of the exact same juice. The finish has a velvet texture that helps it fade fairly slowly while staying warm. It's our best overall bourbon not by way of life-altering tasting notes which include marmalade, honey and maple but by stuffing the stat sheet in a way no other bourbon can. All the Makers versions, and Larceny should sate your wheater crave. Type above and press Enter to search. Bottled and sealed, his signature guaranteed quality. I realize you wrote this article a few years back, however it is still relevant. Larceny and Makers Mark can be viewed as offshoot descendants of that distillery due to the connections the labels have with those original three or connections the distillers had with the principal players in that distillery. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. No need to wait for a special occasion, these are great for any day of the week. Don't tell your bourbon-drinking friends, but Russell's spicy-caramel-and-vanilla-tasting Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the best values in the bourbon world. For the uninitiated, wheat used as a secondary grain was really pioneered at the old Stitzel-Weller distillery in Louisville, birthplace of the Weller lineup, the Van Winkle lineup, and the Old Fitzgerald Lineup. It won my American Whiskey of the Year award [in 2018] in a blind tasting, Minnick says. The finish is long, caramel-sweet, with a lingering cinnamon and a cooked cereal note. This bespoke (and admittedly cool-looking) bottle became extremely famous and then extremely expensive in retail. At $30 per bottle, this is an outstanding value for an aged, over-proof, classic bourbon. ABV: 50% Hi Dave! Finish: Medium length and warm. Bourbon with an age statement and available at barrel strength for a good price? To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit, Sign up for the Distiller Newsletter for new bottle & feature updates, Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon 90 Proof, Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) Flavor Profile: Fruity As the bourbon opens up, rye spice emerges along with a pronounced alcohol burn. The exact mash bill is kept a secret but word on the street is that its a fairly low-rye mash bill with 12 to 15 percent rye. This treasure from Buffalo Traces Antique collection does its namesake a service, representing some of the worlds best wheated bourbon, a style Weller himself pioneered. So, we switched Eagle Rare to its sister brand, Buffalo Trace, which always warms up my palate in the winter. Its 100 proof retains a full body and mixes bonafides without lighting your mouth on fire. It didnt make the cut for the finals. Try it on the rocks. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. So the second way to look at it is really what this site is focused on- how it tastes. Henry McKenna Single Barrel, 10 YO, 50% ABV, is bottled by the Heaven Hill distillery. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. The sip leans more into the caramel apples on the end and skips the citrus yet stays warm and mellow. Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Purchase Info: $24.99 for a 750 mL bottle, Total Wine, Burnsville, MN Details: 50% ABV. Theres a sense of sweet yet slightly bitter tea next to rye spice and a flutter of fresh mint. The result is bottled at 93 proof. Fred Minnick is a longtime American whiskey writer and author of multiple bourbon books. I was more akin to the standard Makers than 46. Production started on Ezra Brooks around the 1950s by the Medley Distillery. Weller CYPB, Weller Full Proof, Redemption Wheated, Wilderness Trail Wheated Mash Bill etc, would all be added. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best Now, bourbon fans grow angry over their inability to find precious gold they once regularly consumed. Old Forester has been on the market continuously since 1870, which is longer than any other bourbon. Once everyday, easy-to-find [+] brands are now allocated and outside of the consumer's reach. Case in point is the original wheated bourbon, Wellers signature 12-year bourbon. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. // < ! One of the few universally praised non-macro whiskey makers in the U.S., its 6-year-old offering is Bottled-in-Bond, sweet mash bourbon with flavor that suggests the "6" on the label is a typo this bourbon tastes significantly older. In this blind tasting, I picked up a cornbread note and thought it to be too young to make my Top 5. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its also the recipe Pappy Van Winkle bought during prohibition. But by and large, I find traditional bourbons aged past 12 years to be more often worse than their younger siblings (Elijah Craig is a good example). If you are interested in exploring the lesser known brands however, and in the process learning a little more about the lore and history of classic bourbon brands, then this list is a good place to start. Wheres the thirsty modern man, farmer or otherwise, to begin? Quite the contrary, I didnt care for the whiskey in the blind tasting. For our money, the best do-it-all bourbon is Knob Creek's 9-year-old Small Batch offering. Distiller Score: 88. The 6 year age statement is now gone and replaced with just the number 6 on the handle, but they bourbon is indeed at least 4 years old. Thats really a loaded question because there are two ways of looking at it. The finish is rich and powerful, with classic bourbon notes of sweet caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper, with a slight but persistent bitter note on the end. Really looking forward to the release of the RY 10 Single Barrel. Youd think that would make it a shoe-in to win my blind tasting. Old Forester 1870's name refers to the year that Brown-Forman founder George Garvin Brown began batching whiskey from three different distilleries (Atherton in Bardstown, Mattingly in Marion and Mellwood in Louisville) to ensure a consistent product. Drink it in a highball or mix up old fashioneds for a few months. Booker's 25th (Probably gets some subconscious points from knowing it was a one-time release) Now, Top 5 that are fairly available (or sufficiently bunkered): 1. Elijah Craig Small Batch came in sixth. The 15 YO version is similar but far richer and complex. Price Range: $20 to $30. Boy, was I wrong! The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. Russells Reserve Bourbon, 10 YO, 45% ABV, is produced by Wild Turkey. Look, this is a damn nice dram. Its bottled at 115 proof for this distillery, thats the perfect proof, Minnick says. And in Division Two we have Old Forester Signature 100 proof up against Wild Turkey 101. This is a departure from the classic Jim Beam mash we mentioned in the lede. In terms of proof and age, I would say they're very close (certainly not over 5 years old). Nice article Bill. Here's the rub. Let me share a funny story. Despite the increasing demand (and price) for much-hyped bottles, bourbon is an every-person drink. They were right. This 100 proof bottling is also bottled-in-bond. It did not make my Top 6. This is a nice mixing bourbon that works just as well on the rocks. You can get two of these for the price of one Woodford. Distiller Score: 84. Its price, proof and age suggest it could be your next home bar staple. But it was not in the cards. In addition, Minnick is the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine and host on the Spirits Network. Yet, it always sort of baffles me when people go on about Evan Williams (which is the same mash bill as Elijah Craig at Heaven Hill) but not this. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Beam was formerly known as Jim Beam Double Aged. As it turns out, it came in my top 10. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Weller Antique 107 Blanton's Henry McKenna 10 Year Noah's Mill 1. The first is as a collectors item. Beginning in spring 2018, the name for this product is simply Four Roses Bourbon., ABV: 40% He has also been published on Liquor.com. It is a small batch barrel selection based on casks hand-picked by Wild Turkeys father and son master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. The Russel Reserve Single Barrel has a similar aroma and flavor profile. Distiller Score: 88. Makers 46 is a good pick. Sure. Id certainly make a few changes here and there. Old Fitzgerald is a bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon released twice a year by Kentucky's . Distiller Score: 86. The finish is long, sweet, with maple syrup and brown sugar notes. This makes a wonderful sipper or gift to a friend, and since Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, you best believe this makes an excellent base to a mint julep with its myriad notes of fruit and spice. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. The name Old Forester was allegedly chosen in honor of a doctor named Forrester, who regularly prescribed the bourbon to his patients at a time when it was still sold in pharmacies for medicinal purposes. However, the signature for which this bourbon gets its name and which is displayed on each bottle, is the founder of the brand, George Garvin Brown. Hence, I find the 20 year Van Winkle offering to be a truly fine bourbon, while the 23 year is a mess in the bottle. Similar to the straight version, it is smoother, with a little more citrus on the nose and palate and a little dried peach on the finish. 46% ABV, is a small batch bourbon assembled from 200 barrels or less, handpicked by Heaven Hills master distiller. Small Batch: A subjective term signaling a bourbon made using a select number of barrels or recipes in a blended bottling. But, I seem to head back to the Makers 46 as my go-to bourbon. If you're looking for the best value in bourbon, just get this. Buy a case. Produced by a respected distiller (Wild Turkey)? ABV: 40% There are, after all, aging variables in play from the length in the barrel to where in the rickhouse the barrel rested to how the master blender married different barrels to create the final product. So no Jim Beam Soft Red Wheat, none of the individual Willett bottlings, none of the Michters 10 year bottlings that were(or were reported to be) wheaters, and none of the Buffalo Trace Single Oak or experimental releases that were wheated. Below are 8 brands of bourbon that retail for less than $50, many are under $30, that represent excellent values and that you have probably never heard of. 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. Along with Old Overholt Rye, Old Grand-Dad falls under The Olds family of whiskeys released by Jim Beam. Theres no way around it, Wild Turkey 101 is great for the money. In my early review days, I wanted to compare anything and everything that seemed similar. Weller Special reserve has much in common with its more famous cousins, but sells, at least officially, at an average price of around $30a fraction of the cost of the Pappy expressions. Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. On the palate, the Old Forester 86 has a decent body showing a medium texture. This is a BETA experience. These became known as the Fitzgerald Barrels. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. This is strikingly similar to Woodford on the nose with the same vanilla, tobacco, mint, and floral fruit. You may opt-out by. Its important to note that this was just one taste off, and I am one taster. Rye based bourbons aged longer than 12 years, in most cases, become far too woody, and they begin to become overpowered by the barrel flavors. If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. It is bottled at 92 proof. Bottled in Bond: Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, a bottled-in-bond spirit must be produced by one distillery in the same distilling season, then aged under federal supervision and cut and bottled at 100 proof. These are two of my favorite daily drinkers both coming in at roughly the same proof, roughly the same price, and both readily available from respected distilleries. With time, the spirit may seem more balanced. Additionally, BIB whiskey must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). This is a side by side comparison review of the Old Forester 1920 and 1910, both are part of their Whiskey Row series. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. Makes it easy to see why some newbies often cant tell the difference between some of these bourbons, right? I assessed all nominations, validated them and tasted them live on YouTube to select my 2019 favorite for Best Everyday Bourbon. Black Label Extra-Aged is bottled at 43% ABV. This is the exact same juice thats just aged a little less. The toffee and oak mingle in the end as it slowly dissipates. Its relatively low-corn mashbill (only 63 percent) is also unique, utilizing a staggering amount of rye and malted barley, creating a spicy bourbon ideal for drinking on the rocks or in a cocktail. A store near me does private barrel selections of OWA and they are outstanding. It is based on a mash bill of 77% corn, 10% rye and 13% malted barley. Now, thanks to rising whiskey prices and a consistently strong product, the brand shortened to OGD by fans has a cult following. This was so complex, with a 20-second finish and layered in vanilla that it was easily the winner. While I think the standard version is fine, Ive had two private barrel selections that were great. This is another nutmeg-forward bourbon I thought could standout in blind competition. On the palate, there is a distinctive honey sweetness accompanied by cinnamon and nutmeg. The mash bill consists of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. Ive always found a bright nutmeg note, which can really stand out in blind tastings. It can claim to be extremely full flavored thanks to its 115 proof, and its taste profile is like a synthesis of. Dread River Master Series by Eboni Major: Eboni Major is one of the rising stars of the bourbon world. image via via modernthirst.com On the nose, there is a distinctive sweetness, along with ripe apple, caramel and a little vanilla. Simply put, Minnick knows bourbon better than almost anyone in America. Its a fantastic bourbon, especially for the money, he says. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? If Evan Williams were to sell this whiskey to someone else, that brand would mark it up to $40, and people would be happy buying it, Minnick says. Wheated Bourbon Throwdown: Larceny vs. W.L. Bourbon is a type of whiskey that needs to meet a few criteria to officially be called "bourbon." The whiskey is based on a mash bill of 62% corn, 28% rye and 10% malted barley. Average Price: $26. I disagree about 46. But I worried its subtleties could get lost in a deep field, which this was. Our tester found that the 12-year is a little rough around the edges neat it is meant to be an affordable bourbon, after all but dropping in an ice cube really opens up its sweet wheat side. If you're making drinks, we prefer the light and spicy Four Roses bourbon. At the end of 2018, Kentucky had over 7.5 million barrels of bourbon being matured, along with 600,000 barrels of other spirits. brands are now allocated and outside of the consumer's reach. Will be looking to sample some others on your list particularly the Makers Cask Strength. Its mellow balance helped by the prominent caramel notes of its wheated mash bill doesnt overpower meaty flavors. According to their story, back in the day, John E. Fitzgerald used his privilege of holding the keys to Pappy Van Winkles bonded warehouse, where the Old Fitzgerald bourbons were kept, to steal the best casks for himself. The whiskey is NAS, but is believed to be four to eight years old. Its also worth noting that Wild Turkey had twoWild Turkey 101 and Russells Reservein the running to win it all. This year, as I did last year, I solicited nominations from Bourbon Pursuit listeners, who are an engaged bourbon consumer base that understand what everyday truly means. On the palate, you have caramel, brown sugar, candied nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cooked corn sweetness, some mint and a lingering pepperiness. Ive had or have everything on the easy list. Okay, this isnt exactly a huge price tag for a quality spirit. Flavor Profile: Spicy & Smoky It is aged at least 4 years in a bonded warehouse and is bottled at 100 proof in a trademark square, white label bottle. The barrels that go into each batch are aged anywhere from 6 to 10 years. Nose: Honey, caramel, wintergreen, almond. 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. A pioneering brand, it was originally released as an exclusively bottled 90 proof bourbon whisky. A wheated bourbon brand contract distilled at Heaven Hill Distillery, Rebel Yell is owned by Luxco. Larceny Bourbon ABV: 46% Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY Average Price: $26 The Whiskey: This is the exact same juice that's just aged a little less. ABV: 46% 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. Here are my rankings the Best Wheated Bourbons in each category. The bourbon business is dominated at retail by a handful of national brands. Please be responsible. Sometimes even exactly the same. The bourbon is made by Jim Beam, and retails for around $20 per bottle. While there's no age statement on the bottle, it's believed that Double Oaked is aged for at least six years. So lets divide them into two categories: Standard Production and Limited Release. Subscribe to his YouTube Channel to watch his Best American Whiskey taste off December 20. Knob Creek 12 Year Price: ~$75 Proof: 100 Tasting Notes: Oak, vanilla, marshmallow Distillery: Jim Beam Wild Turkey also has the same mash bill as Jim Beam and the same barrel char. If they land in my lap at MSRP, like some have, Ill bite. Each release represents a historical year for the distillery. I was wondering if after several years you had any updates to your Wheated lists ? ABV: 45% Today, Evan Williams Bourbon is distilled only blocks from the site of his original distillery. Makers is my flagship wheated bourbon. Old Forester Signature Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, is the oldest bourbon brand in the US and the first bourbon to be sold in bottle. The bourbons range from the $70, 107-proof Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old to the top-shelf, 95.6-proof Pappy Van Winkles Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old, which has a suggested retail price of $300. The whiskey sells for around $25. 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. Its what I want to sip at a ballgame.. This is what you drink when you need a break from barrel-proof juice. Bourbon drinkers who enjoy spice and dark fruit will be fans of this release. Bourbon novice, here; have only sampled a dozen, or so, bourbons. Its not. Still, its not the cheapest expression you can get from Brown-Forman. Everything you ever wanted to know about Americas favorite brown spirit, including, of course, the best bottles you can actually buy. In fact, a lot of bourbons are cut from the exact same mash bills (grain recipes), barrels, and even proofs when they start aging. The bourbon is distilled under contract by various Kentucky distillers. The brand was resurrected by Diageo in 2015 as both a NAS and a 15 YO version. The bourbon is bottled-in-bond (BIB), which means it is the product of a single distillation by a single distiller at a single distillery, and has been aged for at least four years under US government supervision. This bourbon over-delivers for its price and continues to be one of the best value picks on the market. Flavor Profile: Sweet At 12 years, they become really nice sips, and out towards 20 years, they can still be outstanding whiskey. That lower entry proof lends to more flavor from the mash bill (corn, rye and malted barley). Im not ranking single barrel releases, or one-time releases. It's also the first brand. Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 is pulled from the barrel at 109 proof before being proofed down only a touch. But that doesnt mean the core ingredients dont start off the same. Last year, I tasted a dozen bourbons that were widely available and selected Ezra Brooks 7-year-old Cask Strength. The sour mash prevents wild yeast from entering the mash and causing infections. You can often find this for $9.99 on sale. This is an easy drinking whiskey with a classic bourbon nose and taste and a smooth mouthfeel. The whiskey has already won an impressive array of awards. In the past decade, good brands went from available to allocated and from $15 to $40. Its estimated that there are over 3,500 historic brands of bourbon in the United States. It can be a blend of multiple straight bourbon whiskeys as long as they're all produced in the same state. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond won the taste for Best Everyday Bourbon. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. A leather note emerges and lingers at the end. In 2017, Jim Beams Old Grand-Dad line of whiskeys was nearly axed. But theres so many wonderful bourbons available. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . Distiller Score: 80. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. The mash bill used contains: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley. Jimmy Russell is the worlds longest tenured master distiller. Larceny, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS. Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. Old Forester does a slightly better job filling it in comparison. There are obvious exceptions, most related to older rye based bourbons that are bottled at a higher proof such as George T. Stagg. and all are worth seeking out. [CDATA[ (Photo by Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images), Celebrate Bottled In Bond Bourbon, The Spirit That Saved American Whiskey, March Is B Corp Month, Here Are 8 Alcohol Brands You Might Not Realize Are Certified, Top Burgundy Wine Producer Talks About Amazing Value Wines That Often Get Overlooked, Whiskey Of The Week: Michters Celebration Sour Mash Is The Ultimate Event Pour, Whisky Review: 50 Year Old Glenfarclas, Bowmore, Cardrona, And More, Hendricks Gin Debuts Flora Adora As New Limited Release, Thinking About Black Wine Business Beyond Black History Month, Whisky Review: Compass Box, Benriach, Tobermory, And More. We asked whiskey personality and author Fred Minnick to uncover which bottles of bourbon lining the shelves are actually worthy of your bar cart. This tends to produce spicier flavors in the bourbon. Have tried, and enjoyed, the Makers Cask Strength. Oh, and it's sold in liters. Going in, I didnt give this much of a chance for my palate. It is 115 proof and reminiscent of the style of bourbon distilled by the brand during the prohibition era. I got that message twice this week from readers, and thats not a rarity. His son, Eddie Russell, took over as Wild Turkeys Master Distiller in 2015, after 35 years with the company.