ABV: 50% Average Price: $90. Makes it easy to see why some newbies often cant tell the difference between some of these bourbons, right? Old Forester with darker banana, apple, and cherry, while Buffalo Trace with brighter, vibrant, and tropical peach, cherry, and pineapple. It's probably a mixture of under-valued and underrated but Larceny is excellent bourbon for close to $25. Thanks for a great article. Medley also makes a 12 YO expression bottled at 43.4% ABV, which is outstanding. The McKenna distillery was established in 1855, founded by the noted Irish immigrant distiller. This is all about the sweetness.. I want to really sit there and think about it when Im drinking it, Minnick says. Name: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky Age: NAS Proof: 115 Proof (57.5% abv) Type: Straight bourbon whiskey Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation Website: https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1910-old-fine-whisky/ Glassware: Glencairn Review [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. 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. But again, two for the price of one is a bargain. The holy grail of bourbon brands announced its annual slate of whiskeys in October 2022, and the release includes a total of five bourbons along with a rye. Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) The finish is long, sweet, with maple syrup and brown sugar notes. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. It is a wheated whiskey, that shares a common DNA with Old Fitzgerald and the Pappy wheated bourbons. Flavor Profile: Rich & Spicy Sure. I drink bourbon. ABV: 50% Old Forester Single Barrel Rye Whiskey (Barrel Proof) - T3. Medley Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 51% ABV. For 2022, the rugged western whiskey is a blend of 8- and 9-year-old barrels from the distillery and clocks in at a whopping 134.8 proof. Its mellow balance helped by the prominent caramel notes of its wheated mash bill doesnt overpower meaty flavors. Roughly 1,000 are currently active. Limited edition and long-aged bourbons go as quickly as they hit the shelves. 4. Its important to note that this was just one taste off, and I am one taster. On the nose, there is a creamy sweetness, along with cinnamon, vanilla and a little bit of charred wood. Along with Old Overholt Rye, Old Grand-Dad falls under The Olds family of whiskeys released by Jim Beam. Retail - $250; . Its so fucking amazing., Have Apple's AirPods Max? 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). I had always found an over-oaked note here. Average Price: $20. Evan William's Black Label is hard to beat for the money. But the truth is, in a pinch, this is a great sipper. Division 1: Old Grand-Dad Bonded (Whiskey 1) vs Larceny (Whiskey 2) Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Both noses are sweet, but Whiskey 2 is showing a bit more graininess. As it turns out, it came in my top 10. 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Ninety-five percent of all of the bourbon distilled in the US is made in Kentucky. This is an easy drinking whiskey with a classic bourbon nose and taste and a smooth mouthfeel. This Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bears no age statement and is bottled at 90 proof. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. This has an incredible sweetness to it, Minnick says. The finish is long, creamy smooth and sweet, with a persistent caramel and brown sugar note and a lingering note of bitterness at the end. Average Price: $45. Its based on a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley. Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Bourbon that is stored in charred new oak for at least two years. Going into my tasting, I thought this had a great chance of winning. It has a highly complex taste, with everything from cotton candy and cayenne pepper to macadamia nuts and underripe blackberries showing up across the nose and palate. Simply, this is Heaven Hills famous wheated bourbon thats aged for nine years and bottled-in-bond. With Distiller, youll always know whats in the bottle before you spend a cent. 2) Sazerac 18 Year Straight Rye This is going to be a controversial choice, but let's talk this through. Milk & Honey Distillery: Single Malt Made in Tel Aviv, Discussing the advantages and challenges of producing whisky in Israel. It bears no age statement and is bottled at 92 proof. Fred Minnick is a longtime American whiskey writer and author of multiple bourbon books. ABV: 46.5% His son, Eddie Russell, took over as Wild Turkeys Master Distiller in 2015, after 35 years with the company. Bourbon is a type of whiskey that needs to meet a few criteria to officially be called "bourbon." If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. ABV: 46% The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. This one is more of a sipper. Finish: Medium length and warm. Its also worth noting that Wild Turkey had twoWild Turkey 101 and Russells Reservein the running to win it all. Russells Reserve has been hitting my sweet spot of late, and many, including myself, thought this would definitely be in the running. You may opt-out by. Weller, and to a lesser extent Old Fitzgerald, has been caught up in the cult frenzy that now surrounds Pappy Van Winkle. The juice starts its time in a new charred oak barrel (as it should) before its dumped into a second charred oak barrel that's been more deeply toasted. The other is recipe E and is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. Vanilla and toffee are present with a sense of the wheat. Ive tasted vw 10 @$45 for a dbl in savannah. In the case of Old Forester, it comes from the recipe used by distiller Brown-Forman during the prohibition era when the government ordered them to keep their doors open to make bourbon "for medicinal purposes." It's 115 proof with vanilla, nuts, and seasoned oak that has a bulky belly which shows its exceptional age. Elijah Craig Small Batch is layered in vanilla and often so soft on the palate. It's also the first brand. Thats only three fewer years than the Old Fitz above, and its a tenth the price. I bought this bottle for $23 at a local big box store. While I think the standard version is fine, Ive had two private barrel selections that were great. For our money, the best do-it-all bourbon is Knob Creek's 9-year-old Small Batch offering. If you want craft bourbon, we love New Riff's dedication to Bottled-in-Bond whiskey-making and rich flavor profiles. Distiller Score: 86. W L Weller, Special Reserve Bourbon, NAS, 45% ABV, is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery by Sazerac. Just bought a bottle of Larceny and the more I get into the bottle the more Iike it. Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. So, I added it. Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon Review . Average Price: $12. I was more akin to the standard Makers than 46. Distiller Score: 88. The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. 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. Overpowering taste and smell of alcohol. The sip leans into the toffee with a subtle dose of cinnamon spice lingering in the background with more of that honeyed corn. 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. And the 2014 Parkers Heritage Original Batch Wheat Whiskey really showed what that mash bill is capable of with age and proof. If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. It made my Top 5. On the nose, Larceny is sweet, offering fruit notes of peach and apricot along with candied citrus zest, and cinnamon. This 100 proof bottling is also bottled-in-bond. But what are the best wheated bourbons out there? Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Id certainly make a few changes here and there. 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. Its more complex than regular FR, but still drinks easy. There is no shortage of good bourbon available today, although prices keep rising and will likely continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Next time you have a blind tasting throw Larceny in to the mix and see the results. If you're making drinks, we prefer the light and spicy Four Roses bourbon. This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. Its essentially a barrel finished bourbon, and that extra spice is a nice kick to an otherwise soft, wheated profile. Age statement in the double digits for $40 or less? Look, this is a damn nice dram. No, this isnt a single barrel expression. Im going through a bottle a month. Weller CYPB, Weller Full Proof, Redemption Wheated, Wilderness Trail Wheated Mash Bill etc, would all be added. At retail prices between $20 and $30, it is among the best priced wheated bourbon currently available. Distiller Score: 84. Looking for something on the cheap? I was wondering if after several years you had any updates to your Wheated lists ? There are a variety of Very Old Barton bourbons on the market including an 80 proof, an 86 proof and a 90 proof. 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. Founded in 1783 as the first commercial distillery in Kentucky, Evan Williams built his distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. On the nose, there is caramel, cooked corn sweetness and pralines (think almond roca candy), along with plenty of cinnamon and clove spice. 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). These bargain bourbon brands can all be had for $25 or less, so make sure keep your home bar stocked! Its what I want to sip at a ballgame.. Lingering caramel, apple, cinnamon and oak. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Bourbon Classification: Straight Bourbon Company: Brown-Forman Distillery: Brown-Forman Shively Distillery Released: September 2015 Proof: 100 Age: NAS Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Color: Medium-dark Amber MSRP: $50 (2015) Official Website Buy Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Bourbon at Frootbat All of the Weller expressions share the same mash bill. Although it is more expensive at $88 per bottle, it is a far better value than the $30 NAS version. Its mash bill consists of corn, rye, and malted barley. // < ! I am looking forward to trying Old Fitzgerald. You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. I presume you could ask em how much their CEO makes and theyd tell you, Minnick says. Dread River Master Series by Eboni Major: Eboni Major is one of the rising stars of the bourbon world. Still, its not the cheapest expression you can get from Brown-Forman. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to first-party and third-party cookies being stored on your device. ABV: 40% Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. 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. Ive had or have everything on the easy list. Russells Reserve Bourbon, 10 YO, 45% ABV, is produced by Wild Turkey. [CDATA[ 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. The whiskey carries no age statement but is believed to be a blend of whiskeys between four and 20 years old. Its a little smoother and feels softer on the palate. On the palate, the Old Forester 86 has a decent body showing a medium texture. As Bourbon Heritage Month rolls on, were taking a look at some expensive bottles of bourbon to see if we can find some cheaper bourbon counterparts from the exact same mash bill, barrel char, and barrel proof. Bottled and sealed, his signature guaranteed quality. Really young wheat whiskey(4-5 years and younger)can be harsh and almost astringent, while rye-based bourbons tend to have a spicy characteristic that offsets that at a younger age. Glad to find your listing. This spirit seems to drink higher than 104 proof due to overwhelming spice. That includes retailer specific brands. So, I switched it to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, a very widely distributed bourbon from Heaven Hill. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon comes in at #3 on our list of overrated whiskeys. Youd think that would make it a shoe-in to win my blind tasting. image via via modernthirst.com Larceny Barrel Proof (A121, B521, C921) - T3. It's a robust whiskey that pulls off the wheated softness without becoming weak and spineless. Its just that one of them was in the right spot in the rickhouse and deemed tasty enough not to be blended with other barrels. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. Nice to see it make your list. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. I didnt find this note, however, and it failed to impress in the field. New Riff Distilling was founded in 2014. Weve highlighted that time and again. Both are somewhat fruity, but express it differently. This is a nice mixing bourbon that works just as well on the rocks. Perhaps thats why it was in the running to win it all. ABV: 40% 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. Subscribe to his YouTube Channel to watch his Best American Whiskey taste off December 20. If they land in my lap at MSRP, like some have, Ill bite. Old Forester 100 proof. In 2017, Jim Beams Old Grand-Dad line of whiskeys was nearly axed. At $30 per bottle, this is another excellent value for a classic bourbon. ABV: 40% This is Buffalo Traces higher-rye bourbon mash bill even though its not that high comparatively. 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. But I spent last season working the phones and visiting many stores, and I will not do that again. The sour mash prevents wild yeast from entering the mash and causing infections. ModernThirst's Comparison Reviews of Wheated Bourbons: 2020 ModernThirst. Lets end this one with Jims other mash bill. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. But its so much cheaper that who cares? Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY (Sazerac Company) They all use a similar mash bill, andsome reportedly even use yeast strains derived from the original Stitzel-Weller batch. Got your Mash? It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle. In this blind tasting, I picked up a cornbread note and thought it to be too young to make my Top 5. I walk in and find 15 year old Pappy in a red velvet sack sitting on the shelf for about sixty dollars a bottle. If you find it, buy it. Flavor is smooth and a bit musty, with hints of vanilla, banana, cinnamon and a dash of charred oak spice providing a bitter note. 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. Henry McKenna Single Barrel, 10 YO, 50% ABV, is bottled by the Heaven Hill distillery. This bourbon may benefit from some airtime. Old Forester is the more dark, banana-y, oaky, apple-y and earthy bourbon. It won my American Whiskey of the Year award [in 2018] in a blind tasting, Minnick says. The juice is the same stuff that goes into Woodford, although this entry is blended with different barrels for an end product thats a great, basic bourbon at a great price. If you're looking for the best value in bourbon, just get this. 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. Theres a bit more of a pine woodiness on the palate of this one next to the toffee, spice, orange, and vanilla thats more pushed into the background. Hope I can find some of them here in the Pac-NW. 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. Please be responsible. 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. Crafted at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, KY. 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. On the flip side, expensive bourbon isnt always as refined as it seems. Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. With tasting notes that include butterscotch, toffee, caramel and honey, this is one for the sweet tooths. Theres certainly less refinement at play. Don't take Woodford Reserve's Double Oaked's ubiquity for mediocrity. 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. Proof: 100. McKenna has a classic bourbon nose of caramel, vanilla and charred oak. The Controversy Explained, Love Buffalo Trace Bourbon? I'd say this is a bit of a draw on the nose. 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. Old Forester does a slightly better job filling it in comparison. Like plain Rebel Yell for the polical incorrectness of it. Buy a case. For this reason, I started selecting a Best Everyday Bourbon. It is bottled without an age statement at 80 proof. (Photo by Dixie D. Vereen/For The Washington Post via Getty Images). Have tried, and enjoyed, the Makers Cask Strength. Retail - $80; Secondary - $250; Old Forester 117 Series High Angel's Share or Warehouse K (375ml) - T3. The brand was resurrected by Diageo in 2015 as both a NAS and a 15 YO version. Dont drink and drive. On the palate, there is caramel and brown sugar, along with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and charred oak. Its not. High Rye: A bourbon with a higher than normal percentage of mash bill made up of rye (as opposed to using more corn, wheat, or barley, the other main grains used in bourbon mash). Am looking forward to trying some of the others you listed. Old Grand-Dad was a contender for Best Everyday Bourbon. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. That said, I felt strongly Jack Daniels puts out worthy whiskey and deserved to be in this Best Everyday tasting. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. Distiller Score: 88. #4 barrel char. Were just sayin. Now, thanks to rising whiskey prices and a consistently strong product, the brand shortened to OGD by fans has a cult following. They find themselves waiting in line and participating in lotteries for the likes of Weller Antique, which once collected dust on the shelf. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Weller Antique 107 Blanton's Henry McKenna 10 Year Noah's Mill 1. ABV: 40% On the palate, you have caramel, brown sugar, candied nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cooked corn sweetness, some mint and a lingering pepperiness. ABV: 46% Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Purchase Info: $24.99 for a 750 mL bottle, Total Wine, Burnsville, MN Details: 50% ABV. Maybe I should have bought two cases. 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. Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. 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. And THAT I can provide some help on. In fact, ones named after a bourbon legend while the other has that legends visage on its label. Distiller Score: 84, This Kentucky straight bourbon is the entry-level bourbon for the brand.