Average Price: $40. Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. At 12 years, they become really nice sips, and out towards 20 years, they can still be outstanding whiskey. 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? In fact, ones named after a bourbon legend while the other has that legends visage on its label. I drink so much Makers with BBQ, he says. 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. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle. This is an excellent mixing bourbon to have on hand. This is such a dynamic whiskey, Minnick says. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. I realize you wrote this article a few years back, however it is still relevant. 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. After being somewhat underwhelmed by Blantons and Basil Hayden, Ibe come to the conclusion that my tastes lean towards the Wheated bourbons. The notes kind of just linger. Thats only three fewer years than the Old Fitz above, and its a tenth the price. If you find it, buy it. First released in 2021, Dickel 8-Year Bourbon is the company's first official foray into bourbon whiskey, and it's a value-driven powerhouse. We relied on one of the most-esteemed bourbon experts in America, Fred Minnick. 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. 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. I almost included Bernheim Wheat Whiskey in this list, since even though its a wheat whiskey, it taste a LOT like a wheated bourbon due to its high corn content. 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. This whiskey is much better known then the expressions cited above. Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. It is based on a mash bill of 77% corn, 10% rye and 13% malted barley. The spirit is one of those rare drinks that is loved by both bourbon enthusiasts and amateurs. In a whiskey market that's become increasingly fragmented and allocated, Knob Creek's classic small batch bourbon distinguishes itself. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. 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. The current distiller is rumored to be Heaven Hill. Little did I know, this substitute would play a big role in my blind tasting. 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. All of this isnt to say that drinking a Wild Turkey 81 is the same as drinking a Russells Reserve Single Barrel. 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. Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. Type above and press Enter to search. Old Forester Single Barrel Rye Whiskey (Barrel Proof) - T3. Weller Special Reserve, 12 Year Wheated Bourbon Blind Tasting: Weller 12 vs. Old Fitz 12 vs. Van Winkle 12, Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy, Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon, Press Release: Old Foresters Next Release in the 117 SeriesFeatures a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K, William Larue Weller (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection), Rebel Yell Single Barrel 10 Year (added October 2016). 46% ABV, is a small batch bourbon assembled from 200 barrels or less, handpicked by Heaven Hills master distiller. It's also the first brand. Honey and fruit mix with a clear peppery rye note next to a slight hint of oak, apple, and more vanilla. Don't drink and drive. The whiskey is produced by Brown-Forman. Have tried, and enjoyed, the Makers Cask Strength. 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. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. 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. Hope I can find some of them here in the Pac-NW. I write about wines and spirits and the hidden corners of the world, 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, Vibrant Whites, Distinctive RedsAppreciating The Wines Of Friuli, Appreciating Some Of Italys Lesser Known Varietals And Grapes, Wine Cocktails That Take The Chill Off Winter, Bacardis Latest Cask Finished Rum Expressions Are Exceptional. 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. Founded in 1783 as the first commercial distillery in Kentucky, Evan Williams built his distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. This was so complex, with a 20-second finish and layered in vanilla that it was easily the winner. 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. Four Roses Small Batch, a household favorite, did not perform well in this blind tasting for Best [+] Everyday Bourbon. Theyve also led the way in transparency. Its a little smoother and feels softer on the palate. On the nose, there is caramel, cooked corn sweetness and pralines (think almond roca candy), along with plenty of cinnamon and clove spice. These bargain bourbon brands can all be had for $25 or less, so make sure keep your home bar stocked! Press Esc to cancel. Last year, I tasted a dozen bourbons that were widely available and selected Ezra Brooks 7-year-old Cask Strength. Its more complex than regular FR, but still drinks easy. The mash bill used contains: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! This bespoke (and admittedly cool-looking) bottle became extremely famous and then extremely expensive in retail. On the palate, the whiskey is smooth and sweet, with vanilla and caramel and a little dried fruit. Hi Dave! 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. Fred Minnick is a longtime American whiskey writer and author of multiple bourbon books. That said, I felt strongly Jack Daniels puts out worthy whiskey and deserved to be in this Best Everyday tasting. Had a shot in Kentucky a few years back when it was introduced. Case in point is the original wheated bourbon, Wellers signature 12-year bourbon. Whats really frustrating is that living in KY just an hour or so from all these distillers you can hardly find some of these choices, and theyre ridiculously expensive if you do. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood.. The first Black blender at a major distillery, Major previously made waves as the Whiskey Blender at Bulleit. Today, Evan Williams Bourbon is distilled only blocks from the site of his original distillery. Maker's Mark Cask . 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. This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. The original Stitzel-Weller mash bill was 75% corn, 20% wheat and 5% malted barley. Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. Maker's Mark Cask Strength vs Weller Full Proof . It is an heir to the Old Fitzgerald franchise; one of the first wheated bourbons. Weve already talked about how Weller and Pappy are the same wheated bourbon, so lets give Heaven Hills wheated bourbons some love. 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. 1870 Original Batch is also blended by Marianne Barnes, the protg of Brown-Forman's master . 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. #4 barrel char. Four Rosess upgrade over its standard offering blends 180 barrels of four different recipes per bottling. There can be no doubt that a certain 3-word labelhas greatly influenced bourbon and bourbon demand over the past decade. Slightly peppery wheat next to a light fruit, vanilla, and fresh maple syrup greet you. You can often find this for $9.99 on sale. You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. 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. 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 high percentage makes the whiskey sweet and complex, a great choice for those looking for something inexpensive but rich with flavor. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. Flavor Profile: Spicy & Smoky You may opt-out by. Here are my rankings the Best Wheated Bourbons in each category. All of the Weller expressions share the same mash bill. But I worried its subtleties could get lost in a deep field, which this was. Its what I want to sip at a ballgame.. Its so fucking amazing., Have Apple's AirPods Max? Average Price: $12. Additionally, it was aged at least 4 years under government supervision, and it is bottled at 50% ABV. I cover spirits, the drinks culture and business. Distiller Score: 84, This Kentucky straight bourbon is the entry-level bourbon for the brand. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon comes in at #3 on our list of overrated whiskeys. Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. 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 admit I have gotten extremely lucky obtaining a few of these bottles. Larceny is a small batch bourbon (100 barrels or less) of barrels from the middle three floors of the aging warehouse. But that is why I taste blind: I dont want to be influenced by brand name. George T Stagg (Some days I prefer it to just about anything) 5. The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. 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 toffee and oak mingle in the end as it slowly dissipates. The brand has been on the shelves for over 150 consecutive years. In addition, Minnick is the editor-in-chief of Bourbon+ Magazine and host on the Spirits Network. So, I added it. Could this be its year? I was more akin to the standard Makers than 46. I do not covet, nor feel compelled to obtain something that is nearly unobtainable for the challenge. 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. I bought this bottle for $23 at a local big box store. Ninety-nine percent of Dickel products are officially Tennessee Whisky, not bourbon. #3 barrel char. Just bought a bottle of Larceny and the more I get into the bottle the more Iike it. [CDATA[ 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. There is also a Russel Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon that is bottled at 55% ABV, and is matured in barrels that have been toasted to a #4 alligator char. The 10 YO sells for around $35 per bottle, while the single barrel expression sells for around $55. Fortunately, we can still fall back on some tried and true value bourbons. Hey Bill, what are the best wheated bourbons I can buy?. 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. Unfortunately, the surging popularity of bourbon has made most any wheater over 6 years old nearly impossible to find. With tasting notes that include butterscotch, toffee, caramel and honey, this is one for the sweet tooths. Maybe I should have bought two cases. Got your Mash? The first is as a collectors item. Price Range: $20 to $30. If you're making drinks, we prefer the light and spicy Four Roses bourbon. Old Forester 100 proof. You can get a lot of satisfaction out of that. It's a classic tasting bourbon with notes of oak, caramel and brown sugar. He has also been published on Liquor.com. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Bourbon . Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Elijah Craig Small Batch is layered in vanilla and often so soft on the palate. Small Batch: A subjective term signaling a bourbon made using a select number of barrels or recipes in a blended bottling. Production is limited to 8,600 bottles nationwide, and it sells for $250.Pappy Van Winkle 2022 Lineup: No list of the best bourbons is complete without a mention of Pappy Van Winkle. On the palate, there is caramel and brown sugar, along with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and charred oak. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . It is a small batch barrel selection based on casks hand-picked by Wild Turkeys father and son master distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. It can claim to be extremely full flavored thanks to its 115 proof, and its taste profile is like a synthesis of. Pappy Van Winkles impossible-to-find wheated bourbon has become such a hype monster that other wheated bourbons from Buffalo Traces portfolio have seen their own popularity skyrocket due to their proximity. That hasnt stopped the collectors, however. One of the comparisons I did was a side-by-side review of two Bottled-in-Bond bottlings: Old Forester's 1897 BiB versus Old Grand Dad BiB. 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. This is another classic bourbon with a distinctive caramel and vanilla aroma on the nose. 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. 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 You may opt-out by. The sip leans more into the caramel apples on the end and skips the citrus yet stays warm and mellow. With no effort and normal market prices, I can have Makers, Larceny, and OWA. Plum, pear, cocoa and vanilla are among the tasting notes here. I buy this product more than anything else on this list. Its really a question we get very often: What are the Best Wheated Bourbons? The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. Corn on the nose and lots of classic notes of vanilla, toffee, and caramel up top. If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. Dont drink and drive. They deserve to be on every Best Everyday Bourbon list for their massive fan base alone. ABV: 43% Its not complex, but the sweetness is really nice the way it hits the palate. They find themselves waiting in line and participating in lotteries for the likes of Weller Antique, which once collected dust on the shelf. Now, she's struck out on her own, and in the tail-end of 2022 she debuted her first independent effort a tribute to her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama put out by the city's upstart distillery, Dread River. So, we switched Eagle Rare to its sister brand, Buffalo Trace, which always warms up my palate in the winter. Old Fitzgerald is a bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon released twice a year by Kentucky's . Thats really a loaded question because there are two ways of looking at it. Other states have much lower thresholds, however, some considering anything over $400 to be grand larceny. The whiskey inside Early Times' wicked affordable Bottled-in-Bond expression is Brown-Forman-made, though, and it has that sweet-and-smooth Basil Hayden's thing going on, just more a more solid boozy backbone with a recurring note of caramel corn throughout. Wild Turkey also has the same mash bill as Jim Beam and the same barrel char. Try it on the rocks. This is a classic bourbon thats been around for a long time. Id certainly make a few changes here and there. Entry proof unknown. If I tasted this flight again, theres a very good chance Id have different results. If they land in my lap at MSRP, like some have, Ill bite. Lets Talk Fermentation and Distillation!