For something around $30, you get an expertly blended whiskey aged a minimum of 8 years with notes of cherry, orange, almond toffee and oak and bottled at a casual 90 proof. Old Forester Single Barrel Rye Whiskey (Barrel Proof) - T3. ABV: 46% 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. It has none of the harshness youd expect from a 133.2 proof bourbon, and doesnt undergo chill filtering instead just using light filtration to remove barrel char flakes. If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich 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. Theyve also led the way in transparency. Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) ABV: 46.5% Nose: Honey, caramel, wintergreen, almond. Other states have much lower thresholds, however, some considering anything over $400 to be grand larceny. But I spent last season working the phones and visiting many stores, and I will not do that again. This was so complex, with a 20-second finish and layered in vanilla that it was easily the winner. The brand has been on the shelves for over 150 consecutive years. 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. Thats because Barrell is, at this moment, the best blender of American whiskey there is (they have the trophy case to prove it). 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. Ive had or have everything on the easy list. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye . Limited edition and long-aged bourbons go as quickly as they hit the shelves. Unfortunately, both also have that unpleasant metallic vodka-y alcohol taste, which I don't find in other bourbons. In 2017, Jim Beams Old Grand-Dad line of whiskeys was nearly axed. It is aged at least 4 years in a bonded warehouse and is bottled at 100 proof in a trademark square, white label bottle. It's made up of whiskeys from Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, with ages ranging from 4 to 16 years old. These bargain bourbon brands can all be had for $25 or less, so make sure keep your home bar stocked! The barrels that go into each batch are aged anywhere from 6 to 10 years. Press Esc to cancel. Youd think that would make it a shoe-in to win my blind tasting. Milk & Honey Distillery: Single Malt Made in Tel Aviv, Discussing the advantages and challenges of producing whisky in Israel. Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. At retail prices between $20 and $30, it is among the best priced wheated bourbon currently available. Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. Larceny Bourbon is a decent sipping bourbon. But what are the best wheated bourbons out there? That hasnt stopped the collectors, however. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. And THAT I can provide some help on. Four Rosess upgrade over its standard offering blends 180 barrels of four different recipes per bottling. A wheated bourbon brand contract distilled at Heaven Hill Distillery, Rebel Yell is owned by Luxco. Distiller Score: 88. I had always found an over-oaked note here. There is no shortage of good bourbon available today, although prices keep rising and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. This is a smooth, almost delicate whiskey, and makes an excellent sipper. Production started on Ezra Brooks around the 1950s by the Medley Distillery. Got your Mash? While I think the standard version is fine, Ive had two private barrel selections that were great. Regular Four Roses (formerly called Yellow Label), Old Forester 100 Proof (formerly called Signature), Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam Black Label, Larceny Bourbon, Maker's Mark, and Buffalo Trace. and all are worth seeking out. This one is more of a sipper. It's a whisky I could drink any time and not get bored with and the 92 proof makes it a prime candidate for cocktails. Admittedly, the barrel seasoning makes all the difference between . #4 barrel char. The whiskey is produced by Brown-Forman. Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon Review . Average Price: $45. On the palate, the whiskey has a cooked corn sweetness, with notes of honey, dried peach, tropical fruit, vanilla, caramel and burnt sugar, along with some faint strawberry notes. This whiskey is also BIB and is bottled at 50% ABV. The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. ABV: 50.5% All of the Weller expressions share the same mash bill. Russells Reserve has been hitting my sweet spot of late, and many, including myself, thought this would definitely be in the running. #3 barrel char. ABV: 45.2% ABV: 40% Makers is my flagship wheated bourbon. This is great stuff to sip on after a big holiday meal. Sure. That extra time is why the Single Barrel costs three times more than a regular old bottle of Wild Turkey. Distiller Score: 86. George Dickel 15 Year Single Barrel . Larceny, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS. 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. In 2018, Luxco opened Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, KY so expect the bourbon to be made there in the future. But nowhere is the impact of the Pappy Van Winkle lineup more prevalent than in the trickle down effect it has had on other bourbons made with wheat as the secondary or flavoring grain. You may or may not see these bottles show up in a more official form in a future version of this guide once we've tried them ourselves. Just bought a bottle of Larceny and the more I get into the bottle the more Iike it. I assessed all nominations, validated them and tasted them live on YouTube to select my 2019 favorite for Best Everyday Bourbon. Id certainly make a few changes here and there. The brand was withdrawn from the US market in 1997, but continued to be exported. The oak peeks in with more vanilla, notes of toffee, and a bit of berry tartness. Could this be its year? If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. At $30 per bottle, this is an outstanding value for an aged, over-proof, classic bourbon. This is a nice mixing bourbon that works just as well on the rocks. Knob Creek 12 Year Price: ~$75 Proof: 100 Tasting Notes: Oak, vanilla, marshmallow Distillery: Jim Beam After being somewhat underwhelmed by Blantons and Basil Hayden, Ibe come to the conclusion that my tastes lean towards the Wheated bourbons. This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. In terms of proof and age, I would say they're very close (certainly not over 5 years old). So lets divide them into two categories: Standard Production and Limited Release. The Brown-Forman distillery also uses the same mash bill for their premium, high-end market bourbon, Woodford Reserve. Its estimated that there are over 3,500 historic brands of bourbon in the United States. If you get a chance to visit Loretto, pick up a bottle of the Makers 46 Cask Strength sometime. The first is as a collectors item. Ive always found a bright nutmeg note, which can really stand out in blind tastings. 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. ABV: 43% The finish is long, sweet, with maple syrup and brown sugar notes. Theyll tell you everything there is to know about their whiskey they dont hide the mash bill, the distillation proof. The whiskey has already won an impressive array of awards. Four Roses Small Batch, a household favorite, did not perform well in this blind tasting for Best [+] Everyday Bourbon. 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. Theres a clear taste of the honey, vanilla, and toffee carrying the sip towards a very subdued spice and oak. A beautiful marzipan note came to life in the blind tasting. Larceny is a brand extension of Heaven Hills Old Fitzgerald line. Its essentially a barrel finished bourbon, and that extra spice is a nice kick to an otherwise soft, wheated profile. 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. Last I heard it was going for about three thousand a bottle if you could find it. Everything you ever wanted to know about Americas favorite brown spirit, including, of course, the best bottles you can actually buy. Its bottled at 115 proof for this distillery, thats the perfect proof, Minnick says. I usually find Makers Mark to be sweet. It is an heir to the Old Fitzgerald franchise; one of the first wheated bourbons. But that doesnt mean the core ingredients dont start off the same. Hey Bill, what are the best wheated bourbons I can buy?. Old Forester 100 proof. Hi Dave! A pioneering brand, it was originally released as an exclusively bottled 90 proof bourbon whisky. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? This is a simple bourbon thats cut from the same mash and pulled from the same rickhouses as everyones beloved Blantons one of the more sought after and awarded bourbons in modern times. Thats really a loaded question because there are two ways of looking at it. And its a bartenders dream for its mixability. The mash bill is undisclosed, but is believed to be the same, or very close, to that of Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy expressions. Beginning in spring 2018, the name for this product is simply Four Roses Bourbon., ABV: 40% 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. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Vanilla In my early review days, I wanted to compare anything and everything that seemed similar. Its not. The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. A 100-proof blend of 2017 and 2019 bourbons, Major's mix which is the first in Dread River's new Master Series has tasting notes of cherry, apples, oak and light vanilla. I bought this bottle for $23 at a local big box store. 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. Best I ever had was a couple weeks ago in a Chicago speakeasy the Office. I have a couple of them in my bunker. Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon . Its got so much flavor to it, so much complexity its just brilliant whiskey., Are we including bottles that are impossible to find? Minnick asks. A touch of water brings out more sweetness. Nice to see it make your list. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. Ninety-nine percent of Dickel products are officially Tennessee Whisky, not bourbon. The bourbon is believed to be approximately 6 YO. Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY Old Forester is the more dark, banana-y, oaky, apple-y and earthy bourbon. Dread River Master Series by Eboni Major: Eboni Major is one of the rising stars of the bourbon world. Distiller Score: 84. Looking for something on the cheap? This 100 proof bottling is also bottled-in-bond. Produced by a respected distiller (Wild Turkey)? Average Price: $20. This is another nutmeg-forward bourbon I thought could standout in blind competition. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. Regular Old Forester goes into those burnt barrels for another six to nine months. This whiskey is much better known then the expressions cited above. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. With no effort and normal market prices, I can have Makers, Larceny, and OWA. Slightly peppery wheat next to a light fruit, vanilla, and fresh maple syrup greet you. For this reason, I started selecting a Best Everyday Bourbon. Thats only three fewer years than the Old Fitz above, and its a tenth the price. I drink bourbon. Look, I know Jack says Tennessee whiskey on the label, but theres an argument made for it being bourbon. We relied on one of the most-esteemed bourbon experts in America, Fred Minnick. On the palate, there is a distinctive honey sweetness accompanied by cinnamon and nutmeg. At the end of the day, it's a blue-collar spirit, made by thirsty farmers, for thirsty farmers. But theres so many wonderful bourbons available. Its really a question we get very often: What are the Best Wheated Bourbons? It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle.Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon: Every year for the past eight years, Texas-based distillery Garrison Brothers has released their fan-favorite Cowboy Bourbon: an uncut and unfiltered straight bourbon thats produced in limited numbers. Weller, and to a lesser extent Old Fitzgerald, has been caught up in the cult frenzy that now surrounds Pappy Van Winkle. San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago, The 25 Best Whiskies to Try Before You Die, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. A leather note emerges and lingers at the end. Id keep my eye out for the upcoming single barrel Rebel Yell as well as any private barrel selections you can find from Weller, or Makers Mark in particular. On the palate, there are pralines (candied pecans), orange zest, along with caramel, maple syrup, some mint and spice notes of cinnamon and clove. One is labeled recipe B and is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. The whiskey is based on a mash bill of 62% corn, 28% rye and 10% malted barley. It is available everywhere and thus resistant to the price gouging associated with brands like Buffalo Trace. Old Forester released the "Whiskey Row" line in late 2014 to celebrate the distillery's history. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. I presume you could ask em how much their CEO makes and theyd tell you, Minnick says. The other is recipe E and is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. Theyre also all made in the same distillery (Jim Beam). Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Bourbon . The toffee and oak mingle in the end as it slowly dissipates. Bourbon drinkers who enjoy spice and dark fruit will be fans of this release. It is a small batch barrel selection based on casks hand-picked by Wild Turkeys father and son master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. You can often find this for $9.99 on sale. It is a top selling bourbon in Japan. 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. So, I added it. Take heed, though, since it somewhat controversially took home Best in Show, Whiskey at San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago its been harder to come by, and more expensive than it used to be. I was more akin to the standard Makers than 46. Additionally, it was aged at least 4 years under government supervision, and it is bottled at 50% ABV. Ive had/have 5 of the 8 limited/hard to find editions and they are not worth the effort, schmoozing, and gouging required to obtain. Indeed, some bourbon historians believe that Pappy began as barrel selections of Old Fitzgerald, and was later chosen from hand-picked barrels of W L Weller. It's also the first brand. The 15 YO version is similar but far richer and complex. If you're looking for the best value in bourbon, just get this. The result is bottled at 93 proof. The Main Differences Between Larceny Bourbon vs Maker's Mark The main differences between Larceny Bourbon vs Maker's Mark are: Larceny's distiller is Heaven Hill, whereas Maker's Mark is Beam Suntory. Lets Talk Fermentation and Distillation! Its more complex than regular FR, but still drinks easy. 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. Maker's Mark Cask . 2) Sazerac 18 Year Straight Rye This is going to be a controversial choice, but let's talk this through. Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. // < ! Its what I want to sip at a ballgame.. With tasting notes that include butterscotch, toffee, caramel and honey, this is one for the sweet tooths. There is also a 57% ABV (114 proof) version that is priced under $30. Nice, easy-drinking proof? The whiskey carries no age statement but is believed to be a blend of whiskeys between four and 20 years old. There are a variety of Very Old Barton bourbons on the market including an 80 proof, an 86 proof and a 90 proof. Either way, I W Harper is a brand in transition and one well worth watching. You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. On the palate, there is caramel and brown sugar, along with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and charred oak. There is some alcohol burn, especially on the 114-proof version, along with sweet honey notes, candied citrus zest, brown sugar and that cooked tropical fruits. Little did I know, this substitute would play a big role in my blind tasting. 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). 1870 Original Batch is also blended by Marianne Barnes, the protg of Brown-Forman's master One of the best new whiskeys of recent memory, Stellum is a more affordable Barrell Bourbon. Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Bourbon that is stored in charred new oak for at least two years. Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. Tasting notes include Heath Bar and leather on the nose, with cinnamon candies, roasted vanilla and rye coming through in the palate. Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac Company) Proof: 100. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! In this blind tasting, I picked up a cornbread note and thought it to be too young to make my Top 5. 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. But thats not to say that all of those bourbons taste exactly the same. So funky, so rich with cornbread and a honey butter, the only reason it did not win this tasting was it lacked the finish of the winner. This no-age statement bourbon replaces the Black Label 8 Year. You may opt-out by. A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. It can be a blend of multiple straight bourbon whiskeys as long as they're all produced in the same state. The bourbon is distilled under contract by various Kentucky distillers. 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. Russells Reserve Bourbon, 10 YO, 45% ABV, is produced by Wild Turkey. Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. Please be responsible. It doesn't sport a fancy age statement, but neither do most Old Forester brands. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich Flavor Profile: Rich & Spicy This juice is. But if they arent regularly released with a wheated mash bill as a rule, theyre one-offs, and not on the list. After about 7 years, they start becoming nice sips. The 15 YO, and possibly the NAS version, are distilled at the Bernheim distillery, now owned by Heaven Hill, and matured in the Stitzel-Weller warehouses in Shively, Kentucky. Flavor Profile: Vanilla & Sweet Head to Head Comparison: Old Forester 100 vs Wild Turkey 101 I like to do head to head comparisons because I feel like it brings out the nuances of each bourbon. If you can get your hands on the bottle like the Dutton clan did in season 5 of Yellowstone youll be treated to notes of creamed corn, toasted vanilla and a heavy dose of wheat. ABV: 46% Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich Distiller Score: 88 Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. Distiller Score: 84, This Kentucky straight bourbon is the entry-level bourbon for the brand. It is a wheated whiskey, that shares a common DNA with Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy wheated bourbons. On the palate, the Old Forester 86 has a decent body showing a medium texture. Theres certainly less refinement at play. Overpowering taste and smell of alcohol. Seagrams closed the business in the 1970s, and Heaven Hill purchased the brand name in 1994, but no longer uses the original recipe; as Minnick notes in his book, The original yeast, mashbill, and flavor profile are gone, lost with time. But one thing the new bottle does have is time: its 10 year age statement makes it one of the older bourbons at this price range. But its so much cheaper that who cares? For my qualifications, I limited them to products under $40, available in the majority of the states and it could not be a limited edition. Old Forester has been on the market continuously since 1870, which is longer than any other bourbon. If they land in my lap at MSRP, like some have, Ill bite. It's a cask strength blend created by the blending masters at Barrell Craft Spirits and it is a doozy. Where we have full reviews, scores, or tasting notes, I have included links: // < ! It's dynamic and well worth the $55 sticker price. Hes pictured on the bottle. My favorite by far of the standard production you mentioned is Larceny. Buy a case. That bottling is aged at least four years in new, charred American oak. Makes it easy to see why some newbies often cant tell the difference between some of these bourbons, right? On the nose, the whiskey offers sweet caramel and candied cherries, along with a persistent oak note in the background. In fact, a lot of bourbons are cut from the exact same mash bills (grain recipes), barrels, and even proofs when they start aging. Despite the increasing demand (and price) for much-hyped bottles, bourbon is an every-person drink. [CDATA[ amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_enable_interest_ads = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "modernthirstc-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "auto"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "a605ff51e1453cfa02de68c264fd03bc"; amzn_assoc_emphasize_categories = "284507"; amzn_assoc_fallback_mode = {"type":"search","value":"Whiskey"}; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; // ]]> Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. The 2021 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is bold, spicy, and fruit forward. 63 percent corn, 27 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. The 1920 is a crowd favorite on r/bourbon and for a good reason. image via via modernthirst.com The latter is a blend of a 16-year-old bourbon and a 15-year-old high-rye bourbon that pays tribute to the familys first distiller, Jacob Beam, and its said to be some of the best bourbon being produced at the busy distillery. I have always found a peanut butter note in this bourbon, and that can be incredibly enticing during a blind tasting. Medley Brothers bourbon is made by the father and son team of Charles and Sam Medley. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. The whiskey is produced by. Its mellow balance helped by the prominent caramel notes of its wheated mash bill doesnt overpower meaty flavors. Quite the contrary, I didnt care for the whiskey in the blind tasting. Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. Wheat bourbons are different. I dont collect, so secondary value is so worthless a determination to me that I couldnt even tell you a ballpark value of most bottles. This is an easy drinking whiskey with a classic bourbon nose and taste and a smooth mouthfeel. This bourbon won Whisky Advocates whiskey of the year, and Minnick was on the tasting panel. If you're making drinks, we prefer the light and spicy Four Roses bourbon. 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. Wild Turkey is known to barrel its whiskey at a lower entry-proof, meaning the product is a lower proof as it comes off the still prior to maturing. It is bottled without an age statement at 80 proof. Get This Headphone Stand, Complete Guide to Buying Boots This Season, You've Never Heard of 2022's Most-Awarded Whiskey, Tasting WhistlePig's New 21-Year-Old Single Malt, The Best New Whiskey Releases of 2023 (So Far), Psst, Pappy Van Winkle Is Doubling Production, How to Build Your Own Bottle of Whiskey Online, Is Fireball Whiskey? #4 barrel char. All of this isnt to say that drinking a Wild Turkey 81 is the same as drinking a Russells Reserve Single Barrel. Kentuckys population is 4.3 million people. Small Batch: A subjective term signaling a bourbon made using a select number of barrels or recipes in a blended bottling. // < ! Sour mash and bottled-in-bond, non-distiller-producers and high-ryes. Price Range: $20 to $30. Founded in 1783 as the first commercial distillery in Kentucky, Evan Williams built his distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. 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. Charles is a 50-year veteran of the Kentucky distilling industry and his familys history is closely intertwined with Kentucky bourbon. Ill have to revisit this sometime soon and update the list.