The Greatest Bourbons Below $100

There’s a lot of actually costly bourbon on the market when you’re seeking to drop some critical money. And positive, a few of this whiskey is kind of good, however there are a lot of bottles that appear to be priced based mostly extra on hype than high quality.

The excellent news is there are much more bottles on the market that meet the factors of being moderately reasonably priced and nonetheless wonderful. We’re speaking bottles which might be a step or two above the most effective on a regular basis bourbons, the form of bottle you need one thing a bit of nicer and extra complicated than typical however not one thing that fairly qualifies as a special day bourbon.

We’ve put collectively a listing of ten of the most effective bourbons below $100 — prices might range relying on market, however typically talking these are obtainable in nearly each state at an inexpensive value. Strive a pair, or all ten, and see what you assume for your self.

Knob Creek regained its nine-year-old age assertion a couple of years in the past, after which proceeded so as to add a couple of even older age statements to the lineup. Whereas the 15- and 18-year-old variations of this bourbon, which is a part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Assortment, are superb, the 12–year-old sits in that candy spot of bourbon maturation. For lower than 100 bucks, you may count on an oaky, vanilla, caramel sipper that additionally works extraordinarily properly in an Outdated Normal (when you’re extra of a cocktail form of individual).

There’s a whole lot of barrel-proof bourbon on the market to select from today, however that wasn’t at all times the case. Booker’s, a part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Assortment created by legendary grasp distiller Booker Noe, was one of many first American whiskeys to be bottled with out being diluted with water to convey down the ABV and filtered solely to take away any barrel char. The outcome is a superb and flavorful barrel-proof whiskey that you will discover, at occasions, for below $100…and admittedly typically way more. It’s launched in 4 batches per yr (typically three), aged between six and 7 years, and the proof often hovers across the 125 mark. Sip this whiskey neat, make a cocktail or convey down the depth with some water or ice (when you favor).

Who says a listing of the most effective bourbons below $100 can’t embrace a couple of which might be properly below $50 as properly? This cask-strength model of Maker’s 46 simply bought a bottle redesign, however the whiskey inside stays the identical. This whiskey began out as a distillery-only launch, however now comes out in restricted numbers every year. Maker’s 46 is completed with ten seared French oak staves to infuse the bourbon with some further taste–attempt it side-by-side with common Maker’s and you may positively inform the distinction. The proof ranges between 107 and 114, which isn’t as assertive as Booker’s however simply as complicated and wealthy.

Louisville’s Barrell Craft Spirits isn’t a distillery, however an organization that sources barrels and blends them into its personal whiskeys, typically giving them fascinating cask finishes. The bourbon is launched in batches (the present launch is quantity 34), every a novel mix of whiskey sourced from the standard suspects of Tennessee, Indiana, and Kentucky. All the whiskey is bottled at cask power, and the age vary varies based mostly on what’s in every specific mix. What’s constant, nevertheless, is the prime quality of the bourbon, so that is one model you must completely attempt.

Larceny is produced at Heaven Hill, and what separates it from different bourbons is the truth that it’s made with wheat because the secondary grain as a substitute of the standard rye. That is perhaps a well-recognized idea when you’ve ever had the luck to attempt Pappy Van Winkle, which can also be a wheated bourbon. However Larceny is less expensive and arguably simply pretty much as good—and the barrel-proof model is even higher. The whiskey is aged from six to eight years, and the ABV varies based mostly on the batch. The latest launch clocks in at 124.4 proof, which is powerful however nonetheless permits notes of candy cherry, candied orange, and vanilla pudding to shine by.

The information arrived lately that Bob Dylan’s Heaven’s Door whiskey model was constructing a brand new distillery in Kentucky. However along with producing its personal whiskey, it’ll proceed to supply barrels to mix into high-quality releases like the primary bottle within the Decade Sequence launch, a 10-year-old bourbon compelled from Tennessee. It’s a premium bourbon priced comparatively affordably given the age and high quality of the whiskey, and makes a fairly imply Outdated Normal…or a high quality sip by itself.

This Colorado craft distillery is making some significantly good bourbon utilizing a four-grain mashbill of corn, wheat, barley and rye. The bottled-in-bond model has progressively gotten older than the minimal 4 years required by legislation for that designation, with probably the most launch hitting the eight-year mark. It is a actually fascinating bourbon that veers a bit of bit away from a number of the basic flavors you may count on however satisfies all the identical. Search for notes of licorice, raisin and fig on the palate, together with a touch of black pepper and nutmeg.

Relying the place you reside, it might sound loopy for Eagle Uncommon to pop up on a listing of the most effective bourbons below $100. And, sure, when you discover a bottle of Eagle Uncommon, a bourbon produced on the Buffalo Hint Distillery, for greater than $100 maintain shifting. When you do come throughout one within the $60 vary, although, seize it and revel in. This well-aged bourbon is a basic for a purpose, with notes of milk chocolate, honey, tobacco and oak. Buffalo Hint makes a whole lot of unicorn bottles like Pappy and the Vintage Assortment, however this bourbon is simpler to search out (often) and cheaper (hopefully).

Penelope Bourbon was simply acquired by MGP, the identical huge Indiana distillery that provides the whiskey for the model together with many others like Dickel Rye, Bulleit Rye and Brother’s Bond. This launch takes the core four-grain bourbon (a mix of 4 mash payments consisting of corn, rye, wheat and barley) and finishes it in candy wine casks from Hungary. The ensuing whiskey is fruit-forward with some spice and tannin on the palate, an ideal after-dinner dram.

Weller is made at Buffalo Hint, the identical distillery that produces high-priced bottles just like the Vintage Assortment and Pappy Van Winkle. The latter really has one thing in widespread with Weller–each are wheated bourbons. Just a few years in the past bourbon followers realized that they may sip one thing just like Pappy for a lot much less, and for some time the worth of Weller went by the roof. Issues have calmed down a bit, so that you ought to be capable of discover a bottle of the Particular Reserve for lower than $100. This non-age assertion (NAS) whiskey veers towards the sweeter finish of the flavour spectrum, however there’s sufficient oak, espresso and vanilla notes to stability that out.