Buffalo Trace has been defined by its dedication to making fine bourbon whiskey for over 200 years, earning its place of leadership among the world’s legendary spirits makers. This deep amber bourbon whiskey is made with a low-rye mash bill that delivers a complex aroma of vanilla, mint, and molasses. Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, caramel, toffee, corn, dark fruit, and anise, it finishes long, smooth, and deep.

2. Michter's US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Michter’s US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made from a carefully selected mash bill that features the highest quality American corn. It’s then matured to the peak of perfection. The nuanced, mellow, and earthy bourbon is batched in a holding tank sized to fit a maximum of 20 full barrels, leaving no margin for “blending out” imperfection. It offers complex flavors of corn, vanilla, and peach, with a rich, peppery finish.

3. Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon is the maker’s flagship brand. Distilled at a very low proof to help embody all of the barrel flavors during aging, the bourbon comes out of the barrel at around 109 proof. This necessitates only slight dilution before being bottled at 101 proof. The process helps produce a final product that is very close to what came right out of the barrel and stands up wonderfully in cocktails. Wild Turkey also uses the heaviest char # 4 on its barrels, which helps create its deep color and distinct, strong flavor profile of maple, cinnamon, leather, charcoal, and pepper.

4. Old Forester 100 Proof

Old Forester 100 Proof honors the legacy of founder George Garvin Brown, who put his signature on every bottle. Handpicked from select barrels and great on its own or in cocktails, this bourbon is rich, complex, sweet yet spicy, and robust. It’s bottled at 100 proof to maintain its distinct character and full flavor profile.

5. Elijah Craig Small Batch

This award-winning, small-batch bourbon from Elijah Craig is expertly aged in level 3 charred oak barrels and known for its signature warm spice and subtle smoke flavors. Each barrel is thoughtfully hand-selected by the brand’s Master Distillers.

6. Four Roses Small Batch

This small-batch bourbon is a combination of four original bourbon recipes expertly selected by Four Roses’ Master Distiller at the peak of maturation. The result is a very approachable, mellow, perfectly balanced bourbon. You’ll get aromas of winter spice, honey, and floral, followed by similar flavors plus fruit and oak.

7. Larceny Small Batch

Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon has its origins in the history of John E. Fitzgerald and the Old Fitzgerald brand. Its Master Distillers select a limited number of barrels from specific floor locations in the rickhouse to create Larceny’s six-year-old taste profile, which includes caramel, honey, and fruit notes. The distillery uses more wheat than other similar bottles for a softer, sweeter, rounder character.

8. Maker's Mark Cask Strength

Bottled at barrel proof and non-chill filtered, Maker's Mark Cask Strength ranges from 108 to 114 proof depending on the barrels. Smooth, rich, and full-bodied, this bourbon retains the signature, front-of-palate orange, cherry, and tobacco flavors of Maker's Mark while amping up the vanilla and rich oak notes.

9. Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Woodford Reserve’s fine bourbon was first made on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is composed of more than 200 classic, iconic flavor notes, from bold grain like cereal, wood like oak, and sweet aromatics like vanilla, to spice, fruit, and floral.

10. Knob Creek 100 Proof

Each barrel of Knob Creek Bourbon patiently ages in white oak, resulting in a consistent balance of deep, pre-Prohibition-style bourbon with a robust oak taste, complemented with hints of smooth vanilla and layered caramel.