The 12 Best Bourbons to
Gift This Year
Written by Taster's Club Internal Team | Updated May 2025
Searching for the ultimate bourbon gift? Whether you're shopping for a seasoned whiskey connoisseur or someone just dabbling in their bourbon journey, gifting the right bottle is what it’s all about.
With the countless options out there, it can be hard to find that perfect bourbon that makes that special someone say wow! That’s why the experts here at Taster’s Club created this guide to help you find the ideal bourbon to gift. Let’s jump in.
The Top 12 Best Bourbons to Gift This Year
Here’s our carefully curated list of outstanding bourbons that make excellent gifts. Each chosen for its unique story, flavor profile, and craft.
1. Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
Blanton's revolutionized the bourbon world as the first commercially marketed single barrel bourbon. It’s crafted at Buffalo Trace Distillery with each bottle drawn from a single barrel in the famous Warehouse H at Buffalo Trace Distillery. This bourbon ages in a unique setting to enhance its character. The beautiful horse-topped stopper and small-batch exclusivity make it a truly amazing gift.
Tasting Notes: The nose opens with rich caramel and vanilla with hints of citrus and oak. The palate presents smooth and creamy flavors with hints of caramel, nutmeg, and a touch of light citrus. The finish is long with a lingering warmth.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 46.50% | 750ml
Purchase Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
2. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked stands out thanks to its unique double-barrel finishing process. After its initial maturation in charred oak barrels, the bourbon is transferred to a second, heavily toasted and lightly charred barrel. This innovative technique enhances its flavor, creating a richer, more complex profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak.
Tasting Notes: Rich aromas of toasted oak, vanilla, and caramel blend with hints of dried fruit and orange zest. The palate has a balanced mix of sweetness and spice. A long, warming finish highlights toasted wood, light smokiness, and sweet molasses.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 45.2% | 750ml
Purchase Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
3. Pappy Van Winkle’s 15 Year Family Reserve
Pappy Van Winkle is one of the most sought after bourbons by enthusiasts with its roots dating back to the late 1800s. This bottle’s limited availability stems from deep craftsmanship and a dedication as it’s aged for 15 years. Specifically, this small-batch wheated bourbon uses a higher wheat-to-rye ratio to create that smooth desired sip.
Tasting Notes: This bourbon’s nose offers notes of brown sugar and ripe fruit with a subtle hint of oak. On the palate you'll find a balanced mix of toasted nuts, cinnamon, and caramel. The finish is long and smooth with a touch of baking spices.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 53.50% | 750ml
Purchase Pappy Van Winkle’s 15 Year Family Reserve
4. Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
Eagle Rare bourbon is a testament to artistry. This bourbon is aged for 10 years with meticulous care in its production and gains its rich complexity through a slow maturation in charred oak barrels, handpicked. The result is a whiskey that embodies attention to detail and legacy.
Tasting Notes: The Eagle Rate 10 Year opens on the nose with toffee, orange peel, and subtle herbs. On the palate you'll be presented with a refined sweetness with hints of oak. The finish is dry and lingering.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 45.0% | 700ml
Purchase Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
5. Buffalo Trace Bourbon
This great bourbon to gift is crafted at the historic Buffalo Trace Distillery. The process begins with a carefully crafted mash bill, combining grains to create the perfect balance of flavor. The mixture is then fermented and distilled with precision, following time-honored techniques. Buffalo Trace Bourbon is then aged in charred oak barrels to develop that deep and rich flavor. Great for beginners or enthusiasts who want an easy sip.
Tasting Notes: Warm vanilla and molasses with a hint of spice open the nose. It’s followed by a well-rounded palate with caramel and roasted nut notes. The finish is smooth and mild.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 45.0% | 750ml
Purchase Buffalo Trace Bourbon
6. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof represents the legacy of Elijah Craig who is often credited as the father of bourbon. This bottle is crafted using a mash bill of corn, rye, and malted barley. Each batch is bottled straight from the barrel and left uncut and unfiltered to preserve its natural strength and character. The beautiful combination of traditional methods and barrel-proof intensity makes it a safe bet for any bourbon lover.
Tasting Notes: This bottle opens on the nose with deep notes of maple syrup, toasted oak, and cinnamon. On the palate you’ll experience bold spice that is perfectly balanced with caramel and dark chocolate. The finish is long and warm.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 47.0% | 750ml
Purchase Elijah Craig Barrel ProofSurprise Them with a Bourbon Adventure – Month After Month
A Taster’s Club Scotch Subscription introduces your loved one to a new, expertly selected Scotch every month.
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A Taster’s Club Scotch Subscription introduces your loved one to a new, expertly selected Scotch every month.
7. Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Cask Finish
Finished in port barrels, Angel’s Envy is a bourbon that combines traditional craftsmanship with a unique aging process. After maturing in charred American oak barrels, it undergoes a secondary aging in Portuguese port wine barrels, imparting a rich, complex flavor with hints of vanilla, ripe fruit, and subtle spices. Perfect as a thoughtful gift for whiskey enthusiasts or for celebrating life’s special moments.
Tasting Notes: Angel’s Envy offers a rich and layered flavor profile. On the nose, you'll find sweet vanilla, toasted oak, caramel, and subtle notes of dried fruit. The palate is smooth and complex with flavors of ripe stone fruits, maple syrup, baking spices, and a hint of chocolate. The port wine finish adds a velvety texture, making each sip feel luxurious. The finish is long and warming with lingering notes of toffee and soft spice.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 43.30% | 750ml
Purchase Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Cask Finish
8. Four Roses Small Batch Select
Four Roses Small Batch Select is a bourbon crafted from six of the brand's ten unique recipes. It’s developed by combining two mash bills and three proprietary yeast strains for a complex blend of spice, fruit, and floral notes. It’s then non-chill filtered and aged for at least six years in carefully selected American white oak barrels.
Tasting Notes: This spirit opens with a rich aroma of ripe berries, warm spices, and vanilla. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, offering flavors of dark fruit and a honey-like sweetness. The finish is long-lasting, leaving you with a warming spice.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 52.0% | 750ml
Purchase Four Roses Small Batch Select
9. Knob Creek 12 Year Old
Knob Creek 12 Year is a top bourbon crafted at the famous Jim Beam distillery. This bourbon is aged for 12 years in charred American oak barrels to develop that depth and complexity. What sets it apart is the extended aging process of 12 years, reflecting the brand's dedication to small-batch methods.
Tasting Notes: The nose offers deep maple syrup and toasted oak. The palette presents charred oak, nuts, and subtle hints of vanilla. The finish is long-lasting and a lingering sweetness.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 50.0% | 750ml
Purchase Knob Creek 12 Year Old
10. Maker’s Mark 46
This bourbon bottle was the first innovation from Maker’s Mark since the distillery launched in 1958. Maker’s Mark 46 uses seared French oak staves inserted into the barrel during the finishing process. This step adds unique depth and complexity without altering the traditional wheated bourbon foundations. The handcrafted approach and red wax seal embody Maker’s Mark’s commitment to a bourbon that will make a great gift.
Tasting Notes: This bourbon offers delightful caramel and warm vanilla notes with subtle oak undertones on the nose. The palate opens with soft spice blends and rich caramel. Leading to a smooth and slightly oaky finish.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 47.0% | 750ml
Purchase Maker’s Mark 46
11. W.L. Weller Antique 107
W.L. Weller Antique 107 is a widely celebrated wheated bourbon that’s often referred to as a pioneer of the wheated bourbon category. It’s delicately created by the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. This bourbon was originally introduced in the mid-20th century to honor William Larue Weller, a bourbon innovator. Its 107 proof adds boldness for a complex yet approachable experience.
Tasting Notes: This opens on the nose with aromas of fresh-baked bread and subtle floral undertones. On the palate, you'll taste toffee, vanilla, and hints of dried apricots. The finish is medium-long and pleasant.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 53.50% | 750ml
Purchase W.L. Weller Antique 107
12. E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
The E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch is aged in historic, century-old warehouses and captures the essence of Kentucky bourbon heritage with every sip. The balance of sweet, spicy, and oaky notes makes it approachable for bourbon newcomers while offering enough depth and nuance to captivate seasoned enthusiasts. Ideal for sipping neat or savoring with a splash of water to unlock its full complexity.
Tasting Notes: It begins with rich caramel corn and warm butterscotch lead with hints of vanilla cream, toasted oak, and dried orchard fruits. The palate balances sweet corn and caramel with butterscotch, and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, rounded out by orange zest and cocoa. The finish is long and warming, with lingering caramel sweetness, gentle spice, and touches of leather and tobacco.
Region: Kentucky, USA | ABV: 50.0% | 750ml
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Each month they'll receive a carefully curated bottle of premium bourbon, complete with tasting notes and insights into the distillery's history and production process. This unique gift introduces your special someone to an incredible variety of bourbons, including rare finds, small-batch gems, and timeless classics.
Whether they’re seasoned bourbon connoisseurs or just starting their journey, this subscription lets them explore different styles and rich flavor profiles from the comfort of home. Plus, we offer popular 3-month and 6-month prepaid subscriptions for a gift that keeps on giving.
A Bourbon Adventure For
Every Level
A Taster’s Club Bourbon Subscription transforms any occasion into an extended celebration, delivering carefully chosen bourbon every month.
A Bourbon Adventure For Every Level
A Taster’s Club Bourbon Subscription transforms any occasion into an extended celebration, delivering carefully chosen bourbon every month.
How We Choose The Top Bourbons
We tasted an impressive array of good bourbon whiskey from today’s top producers, guided by decades of experience and an unwavering commitment to quality and affordability for this specific list. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the criteria we use to identify the best bourbon whiskey:
Quality of Ingredients and Distillation Methods
Bourbon whiskey is an American spirit that has strict guidelines to ensure its authenticity. To qualify as bourbon, it must be made from at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 160 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. No additives are allowed except water to adjust the proof.
At Taster’s Club, we believe that a good bourbon whiskey starts with great ingredients. We carefully select the best bourbon whiskey, featuring unique mash bills like wheat bourbon, high rye bourbon, high corn bourbon, or 4-grain bourbon. We also prioritize distilleries that go above and beyond using premium, non-GMO ingredients, ensuring a rich and consistent flavor with every bottle.
In addition to high-quality grains, many bourbon whiskey brands enhance their spirits with limestone-filtered water, which is naturally abundant in classic bourbon-producing regions like Kentucky. This water helps improve the fermentation process, contributing to the smooth, clean character of our best bourbon whiskey.
Aging Process and Barrel Quality
The aging process plays a crucial role when selecting the best bourbon whiskey. With this bourbon guide, we prioritize bourbons that have been aged for at least two years, including varieties like small batch bourbon, cask strength bourbon, wheated bourbon, Bottled in Bond, and barrel-finished bourbon. Bourbon whiskey brands typically use new charred oak barrels, which impart rich flavors of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak while also giving the bourbon its signature amber color.
The climate in which the bourbon matures is equally important, as regions with fluctuating temperatures allow the whiskey to interact more deeply with the wood, resulting in a more complex flavor profile. While longer aging often enhances the richness of the flavors, we recognize that great bourbon whiskey doesn’t always require extended time in the barrel.
Brand Reputation and Legacy
All of the best bourbon whiskey we feature are hand-crafted by award-winning distilleries in the U.S., with a focus on delivering exceptional flavors and experiences. Whether it's a distillery steeped in tradition or one pushing the boundaries of innovation, every spirit in our Bourbon Bottle Shop.
Price-to-Quality Ratio
While some of the best bourbon whiskey commands premium prices, we understand that value matters. Many good bourbon whiskey options offer exceptional quality at an accessible price. Our selection considers a range of budgets, ensuring that every enthusiast can find a bourbon worth savoring.
Commonly Asked Questions
What Is Unique About Bourbon?
Bourbon is an American made spirit that’s protected by strict legal requirements, setting it apart from other types of whiskey like Scotch or Irish whiskey. For it to be called bourbon it must be made in the United States with a mash bill containing at least 51% corn.This corn percentage contributes to its signature sweet and soft developments. It must also be aged in new charred oak barrels.
This is different from Scotch which is commonly made from malted barley and aged in used barrels (often sherry or wine casks). Additionally, bourbon is typically distilled to no more than 160 proof and entered into barrels at no higher than 125 proof. These regulations, combined with the influence of Kentucky’s limestone-rich water and climate, make bourbon a uniquely American spirit.
What Pairs Well With Bourbon as a Gift?
Nothing pairs better with a great bottle of bourbon than a beautiful crystal glass for a sophisticated presentation. Or, try a whiskey decanter to highlight the bourbon’s rich color and aroma when sipping amongst guests. If you’re gifting to someone with a sweet touch, we also recommend adding artisanal chocolates with deep flavors to help complement the bourbon experience.
What Is a Great and Affordable Bourbon Gift?
Buffalo Trace and Maker’s Mark are excellent affordable options, offering exceptional quality and iconic branding without breaking the bank. Or check out these expertly curated lists of the top bourbon under $50 and the top bourbon under $100.
But if you’re looking to take your bourbon experience to the next level, consider joining Taster's Club Bourbon Club or Whiskey Club. At Taster’s Club, our experts collaborate with distilleries worldwide to bring members a curated experience featuring award-winning spirits, craft creations, and small-batch gems. Each month, you’ll receive a carefully selected bourbon along with the unique story behind the bottle. It's the perfect way to discover and enjoy premium bourbons, one tailored bottle at a time.
How Does the Bourbon Gift Club Subscription Work?
When you purchase and gift any Taster’s Club Club subscription, your recipient will receive a full-size bottle of bourbon each month, along with a personalized gift notification. You’ll also get a monthly digital guide with tasting notes, cocktail recipes, and background information about each bourbon, ensuring a truly great bourbon gift experience.
Discover Other Great Gift Ideas
Make Every Month a Bourbon Adventure with The Bourbon Club
Help the bourbon enthusiast in your life embark on a new adventure in bourbon whiskey with our Bourbon Gift Club, which features hand-picked bottles from premier distilleries.
Make Every Month a Bourbon Adventure with The Bourbon Club
Help the bourbon enthusiast in your life embark on a new adventure in bourbon whiskey with our Bourbon Gift Club, which features hand-picked bottles from premier distilleries.
