Taster’s Club Best Bourbon Whiskey: Small Batch, Wheated, & More
Written by Allison K | Updated January 2025
Welcome to a world where each sip tells a story as old as time!
At Taster's Club, we've scoured the finest distilleries across the globe to bring you our exclusive selection of the best bourbon whiskey. Whether you're a seasoned bourbon enthusiast, a whiskey lover seeking your next favorite bottle, or searching for the perfect gift for bourbon lovers, our curated list of the best bourbon whiskey brands offers something truly special. Let's raise a glass to the art of bourbon-making and the communities who treasure every pour.
Our Selection Criteria for the Best Bourbon Whiskey
Our selection process was meticulous and passionate. 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, ensuring only the best bourbon whiskey made it to our final picks. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the criteria we use to identify the best bourbon whiskey:
Quality of Ingredients
Bourbon whiskey is a native 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
Each distillery we partner with for the best bourbon brings a unique story and an unwavering commitment to quality, evident in the craftsmanship that goes into every bottle. 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 Bottle Shop.
Price-to-Quality Ratio
While some of the best bourbon whiskey command premium prices, such as the best bourbon under $100, we understand that value matters. Many good bourbon whiskey options offer exceptional quality at an accessible price, such as the best bourbon under $50 options. Our selection considers a range of budgets, ensuring that every enthusiast can find a bourbon worth savoring.
The Best Bourbon Whiskey by Variety
To simplify your search for the best bourbons to try, we’ve curated a comprehensive guide highlighting the best bourbon whiskey selection from various categories. Whether you prefer a bold single barrel, a well-balanced small batch, or a high-standard Bottled in Bond, we have you covered!
Best Small Batch Bourbon
Small batch bourbon refers to a select number of barrels blended to create a bourbon with unique flavor characteristics. Unlike mass-produced whiskey, small batch bourbon is often from a limited quantity of carefully chosen barrels. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
Bookers Small Batch 2024-01 The Springfield Batch
The first Booker’s batch of 2024 is called the Springfield Batch to honor my dad’s hometown of Springfield, Kentucky. This rural town in central Kentucky is where Booker Noe, my dad was born and raised. He worked on many farms growing up, from the hay fields to tobacco patches.
The batch is made up of 5 production dates stored in 4 different aging warehouses. The age is 7 years, 7 months, 8 days, and is 124.5 proof, representing one of the best bourbon whiskey options. It highlights the expertise of the best bourbon whiskey brands, delivering the richness and depth found in a good bourbon whiskey, with the complexity that aging and craftsmanship provide.
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Master Distiller Brent Elliott selected and mingled six of Four Roses’ 10 bourbon whiskey brands recipes, each aged a minimum of 6 years, to handcraft Small Batch Select. Non-chill filtered and 104 proof, this offering from one of the best bourbon whiskey brands delivers truly unique flavor characteristics.
Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
Cask strength bourbon is a type of bourbon whiskey bottled directly from the barrel without being diluted with water. This results in a more intense, robust flavor, showcasing the true essence of the best bourbon whiskey. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
1792 Full Proof
Bourbon insiders have long acknowledged that full proof bourbon is a hallmark of the best bourbon whiskey. This bourbon whiskey underwent a unique filtering process, forgoing the typical chill filtration and passing only through a plate and frame filter. This method allowed the bourbon to maintain a robust proof for bottling, delivering a full, rich, and bold flavor. Bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof, just as it was years ago when the barrels were first filled, the 1792 Full Proof Bourbon exemplifies the craftsmanship of the best bourbon whiskey brands.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
To sip Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is to experience the best bourbon whiskey in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand-labeled with its unique proof and batch number, but the nose, taste, and finish are pure Elijah Craig, a perfect example of the craftsmanship behind bourbon whiskey brands.
Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
Single barrel bourbon is a unique expression of bourbon whiskey, with each bottle coming from an individual barrel rather than a blend. This gives each bottle its own distinct flavor profile, showcasing the nuances of that particular barrel. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
2XO Gem of Kentucky
The Gem of Kentucky is the premiere offering from 2XO, and it stands out as one of the best bourbon whiskey options on the market. It’s the only double-barreled single barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey available, showcasing the distinctive process that sets bourbon whiskey brands apart. The barrels are exclusively selected by Dixon from his double-barreled stocks of the high rye bourbon mash bill (35% rye), which spend a year in new charred oak barrels before bottling.
This bourbon is a full-bodied, full-flavored expression, exemplifying the best bourbon whiskey brands through Dixon’s unique double-barreling process, offering a richer and more viscous mouthfeel. The differing char levels on the secondary barreling allow complex flavors to develop, balancing the spicy finish from the high rye distillate.
Baker's 7
No two barrels of Baker’s are the same. Each is as unique as the man the bourbon is named for. Each barrel sits in its own unique place throughout our rickhouses, patiently aging for a minimum of seven years to extract the notes of vanilla trapped within the charred oak, contributing to the distinctive flavor that makes this one of the best bourbon whiskey options.
Best Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Wheated bourbon is made using wheat as the secondary grain instead of the traditional rye, resulting in a smoother, sweeter flavor profile. This style of bourbon whiskey is known for its soft, mellow character, making it a favorite among those who prefer a less spicy, more approachable taste of a good bourbon whiskey. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
Larceny Barrel Proof
Larceny Barrel Proof offers a new opportunity to experience our acclaimed wheated bourbon whiskey mashbill in its purest form: non-chill filtered and bottled at full barrel proof. Released three times per year in January, May, and September, each offering is a bold yet balanced special Small Batch bourbon whiskey rich with depth and distinction. Much like Larceny Small Batch and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Larceny Barrel Proof is a welcome reminder of just how good bourbon whiskey can be and why it’s considered among the best bourbon whiskey options.
Jefferson’s Ocean Wheated
Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea is fully matured for at least four years, then placed in rickhouses on ships to travel the globe, which hyper-ages the bourbon. The constant agitation, weather conditions, and sea-salt air impart a flavor like no other, making it one of the best bourbon whiskey experiences. As wheat is a softer grain than rye, it amplifies the flavors intrinsic to ocean voyages in a way that rye spice just can’t.
Best Bottled in Bond
Bottled in Bond refers to a specific designation for bourbon that meets strict criteria set by the U.S. government, including being aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. This guarantees a higher quality and consistency in flavor, making it a favorite among bourbon enthusiasts. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
Redwood Empire Grizzly Beast
This rare best bourbon whiskey was bottled under the strict tenets of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Aged in the temperate climate of the Northern California coast, the original distillate was altered only by the addition of pure water from the Russian River Valley aquifer. This is the purest expression of Redwood Empire’s craft, showcasing the excellence of bourbon whiskey brands that focus on quality and tradition.
Old Forester 1897
Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon whisky history. This expression follows the Bottled in Bond standards, ensuring the bourbon is aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, the product of one distillation season, one distiller, and from one distillery, then bottled at 100 Proof.
The concept behind these regulations—the idea of ‘sealed in quality’—was introduced by Old Forester in 1870 as America’s First Bottled Bourbon. Known for producing good bourbon whisky, Old Forester offers a well-crafted, rich profile that showcases the best bourbon whisky standards.
Best Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey
Best Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey
Barrel finished bourbon is a type of bourbon whiskey that undergoes an additional aging process in a different barrel, often one that has previously held wine, rum, or other spirits. Here are the best bourbon whiskey in this category:
Yellowstone Rum Cask Finish
Our Special Finishes Collection is an ever-growing exploration of finishes and perspectives on our iconic best bourbon whiskey profile. To add to our collection, we created a rum cask, finishing our 4-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in Rum Cask barrels straight from Havana, Cuba, for nine weeks, imparting notes of spice and tropical sweetness. We’re excited to include this unique flavor profile alongside other offerings from the best bourbon whiskey brands in the Yellowstone family.
Mary Dowling High Rye Tequila Barrel Finish
This high-rye Kentucky bourbon, a standout from the best bourbon whiskey picks, pays tribute to the determination of Mary Dowling―the "Mother of Bourbon." After its initial maturation in new charred American oak casks, it was finished in reposado tequila barrels, showcasing the craftsmanship behind some of the best bourbon whiskey.
5 Tips for Enjoying the Best Bourbon Whiskey
To truly appreciate the complexity and rich flavors of the best bourbon whiskey, it's important to understand how to enjoy it properly. Whether you're exploring good bourbon whiskey for the first time or you're a seasoned connoisseur, following these tips will help you make the most of every pour:
1. Use the Right Glass: To fully appreciate the nuances of the best bourbon whiskey, opt for a bourbon glass with a tulip shape, like a Glencairn. This will help concentrate the aromas, enhancing your tasting experience.
2. Drink Neat for Purity: One of the best ways to drink bourbon whiskey is neat. This allows you to taste the full depth of flavors without any dilution, letting the complex notes of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak shine through.
3. Add a Splash of Water: For a smoother experience, consider adding a few drops of water to your good bourbon whiskey. It can help open up the flavors, revealing subtler aromas and making the bourbon easier to sip.
4. Pair with Food: Pairing your best bourbon whiskey with rich foods such as smoked meats, chocolate, or sharp cheeses enhances both the drink and the food. The contrast of flavors can elevate your bourbon-tasting experience.
5. Experiment with Cocktails: While sipping neat is a classic, many bourbon whiskey brands thrive in cocktails. Try an Old Fashioned or Manhattan to explore how the whiskey interacts with bitters, citrus, and sweeteners.
Shop the Best Bourbon Whiskey and Savor Excellence with Taster’s Club!
At Taster’s Club, pursuing the best bourbon whiskey becomes an exciting adventure, and our list of the best bourbon whiskey will surely guide you toward your next favorite bottle. If you want a more personalized bourbon whiskey experience, join our Bourbon of the Month Club! Each month, we feature bottles from today's new award-winning distilleries from Kentucky and beyond and ship them straight to your door!
FAQs: Best Bourbon Frequently Asked Questions
Looking for answers to your bourbon whiskey questions? We've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you explore the best bourbon whiskey available at Taster’s Club. Let’s take a look at them below:
