The Worst Bourbon Whiskeys From Every Major Distillery - UPROXX The juice spends four years in barrels before its blended out into this expression and proofed way down to 80 proof. It's like a story without any real plotline it may be entertaining, but you're bound to get confused and left wondering what just happened. Sticking with Willett, Old Bardstown Estate Bottled 101 for $28 is a massive jump in quality, taste, and overall usefulness. So how are they? The Last Drop Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon - $18,320. 11 min read. More typically, it goes for $22 to $25 which makes you wonder about the aphorism "You get what you pay for." Every step is carefully monitored, from sourcing herbs, grains, and spices from vetted farmers to using state-of-the-art technology to keep its products consistent. This 95% New York-grown corn bourbon holds the distinction of being the first (legal) whiskey produced in the state since Prohibition . Reviews on Flaviar say it's "Too rough and not very enjoyable," andDistiller comments won't give you much more confidence: "Flat, thin and weak. But Id argue that Benchmark Bonded for $20 is such a big jump in quality and flavor that you should try that first. As one commenter on The Whiskey Jug says, it "tastes like someone spilled vinegar in sweet whiskey." > You can also check out GAYOT's: - Best Bourbons under $40 for budget . The truth may be lost to time, but many of the original family-owned distilleries from the 1700s are still going strong, albeit under new corporate ownership in some cases. 90. Tech Fitness Outdoor Autos Gear of the Week Gifts. When you hear comments like that, it makes you wonder if this is the same bourbon that won a Silver Medal at the 2020 International Spirits Challenge and a Double Gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Championships (via Liquor.com). Spoiler alert: The name ended up being a self-fulfilling prophecy. This is a classic bourbon that became part of Jim Beam about 30-odd years ago. Ranking The Big Bourbon Brands, From Worst To Best - TheList.com This is an entry point whiskey from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, commonly known as Willett. The theory was that the constant movement of bourbon sloshing around in wood barrels would in turn make the whiskey age faster. Quite frankly, Cascade Hollow Distillery jumped the shark on this one. The Best Bourbons Of 2022 - Maxim Malt likewise found pleasantly fruity notes in its Old Forester 1910. This is hot in that it tastes like burning instead of hot notes from spice, wood, or tobacco. Nikka Whiskey from the Barrel - Never mind that all whiskey comes from a barrel, this complex Japanese blend is a delightful exploration of fruit, wood, and sweet vanilla. Best Bourbons We've Tried in 2020 - Men's Journal On the palate, its candied notes are balanced by oak, char, and spice. This suggests their tried-and-true middle-shelf expressions may be a safer bet for most tastes than their limited-edition experiments. Not necessarily, because a humdrum bottle or a bourbon at a low price point isn't always going to taste like nail polish remover. Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon. Art of the Spirits Whiskey Cask Strength "Frogman" Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Thirty One Whiskey says that using it as a mixer doesn't really help much, so if you're shopping for affordable, bottom-shelf bourbon, do yourself a favor and don't be a rebel. Sometimes only five to ten dollars more. Paste Magazine reports that dissatisfaction with pricing is a universal consumer woe regardless of the bourbon. Maybe the judges had incredibly tired palates by the time this disaster came up for judging. If super flavorful, bold, and bright bourbon is your calling, then you'll probably want to steer clear of Basil Hayden'sKentucky Straight Bourbon. The Bonded version basically takes everything thats just a whisper in the above version and lets it shine while layering in deeper flavor notes. Well, at least the price tag under $20 makes it a good gag gift. Forever. These aren't the cheapest bottles you can find, but they are some of the best. It's easily one of the first whiskeys to be thrown into the pit of most regrettable bourbon purchases. Somehow, you'll get everything from cherry to ginger to wasabi to brown butter, with a hint of grassiness. A beguiling blend of straight bourbon whiskeys (5, 6, 7 and 10-year-old barrels) distilled and aged in TN, KY and IN, and bottled at cask strength (115.34 proof). 3. The 25 Best Bourbon Whiskeys (2023) | Just Updated According to reviews on Distiller, this bourbon tastes cheap and burns going down. The first bourbon to be distilled in New York makes this list for its high corn mash bill, at 90% corn and 10% malted barley. Or maybe it does, but not in a good way. It's cringe-worthy no matter how you look at it. The Whiskey Reviewer described its 12-year-old bourbon as having a nose of "brown sugar, cinnamon graham crackers and vanilla, accented by toasty oak." Ezra Brooks Bourbon Old Ezra 7 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Best Bourbon Reviews (2023): 20 Top Shelf Bourbon Whiskeys - TheCoolist This gives Maker's Mark a softer, richer flavor than rye-forward bourbons, with lots of caramel and fruit on the nose, and a pleasant hint of oak, according toBreaking Bourbon. #7. To that end, Im naming ten bottles of Kentucky bourbon that I think you should avoid. Taking a shot of Knob Creek's Smoked Maple sounds like one of those questionable challenges that dare you to record yourself doing something ill-advised like eating a spoonful of cinnamon or, you know, drinking a jug of maple syrup. The steeliness of this is hard to get past sometimes. The site also says that Bright Lights, Big City smells of vanilla and oak, with a flavor of stone fruit, corn bread, caramel, and cashews that "lingers long after your final sip." And if the Reddit comment "it tastes like rotting peanuts and cardboard" doesn't make you a little hesitant, then by all means, go forth and experiment. It's one of the most complex bourbons on this list, so it makes for a great buy if you like high-rye bourbons. So they blend it out into the cheap stuff. Sounds tasty, doesn't it? The man whose face has been immortalized on these bottles is none other than first-generation distiller Basil Hayden Sr., whose namesake bourbon also appears on this list. Still, any bourbon worth a day's drive is worth noticing and worth the top honor on our list. It is a 10-year-old Bottled-in-Bond named after the Irish immigrant who worked with the grains found in Kentucky and adapted his family recipe to them. Arguably the world's best bourbon whiskey, Buffalo Trace is serious value for money. This universality is achieved by letting the juice rest in deeply charred oak for six to seven years before its cut down to 81 proof for bottling. Top 10 Bourbon - Most Popular Bourbon Brands 2023 | WikiliQ The taste delivers on that and expands into peach cobbler territory with mild hints of vanilla and brown sugar syrup with baking spices. Blade and Bow'sconception starts with the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, whose claim to fame is being founded by the man behindPappy Van Winkle (via Whiskey ID). In other words, it's easy to drink with all the expected bourbon flavors and aromas, with plenty of depth for serious sippers to appreciate. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire 14 days after. Nah. Still, if you do come across this, it is a great mixer I cant deny that. And despite its eyebrow-raising alcohol content (100 proof, or 50% ABV), it feels warm on the tongue, not abrasively hot. I didnt, but I have no idea what to do with it otherwise. Was the technique of aging bourbon in charred oak barrels, the signature step responsible for bourbon's unique flavor, invented by Elijah Craig in 1789, the Tarascon brothers in 1807, or, more prosaically, the improvisation of numerous distillers who charred the interiors of used fish barrels to deodorize and sterilize them? But they'll also (begrudgingly) be the first to admit that they still end up learning through experience. It's from the land of frigid cold and really big lakes (Minnesota). Their Small Batch Bourbon took double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2018 and was named Best Small Batch at the same competition. Hayes Parker Reserve: Terre Pure bourbon aged at least six months. Theres a bit of steeliness to the nose that mellows hints of dried florals, apple, and a touch of honey and spice. Flavor is sweet at first, with a hint of old leather although it has some oak char bitterness, but nothing too severe. The juice is a bourbon blend thats a minimum of four years old. Price: ~$50. Its stellar whiskey, albeit from Tennessee and not Kentucky. 25 Bourbon Brands Ranked Worst to Best - Let's Eat Cake I guess Id also take a shot of this as a beer back in a pinch but I wouldnt be hyped about it. Meanwhile, customers vent their frustration for succumbing to shiny object syndrome the bottle looked cool. Every other aspect nose, palate, and finish was horrible because the bourbon had an "overwhelming taste of leather and tobacco and a lot of bitterness." I made the mistake of picking up two minis of this. Distillery: Wild Turkey. The palate follows suit with simple notes of vanilla, caramel, and dried corn dominating the palate. It goes without saying when a bourbon provokes a description like "vomit inducing turpentine," you should probably think twice before investing $50 for a bottle. Benchmark Old No. Despite whatever institutional turmoil it has endured, Barton 1792 produces low-key, understated expressions. While bourbon can technically come from anywhere in the US, maybe Minnesota should leave it to the experts down in Kentucky. It's a classic tasting bourbon with notes of oak, caramel and brown sugar. This expression was devised as a lower-proof bourbon thats a pure workhorse whiskey. One of the best non-Kentucky high-rye distilleries out there is Indiana's own Hirsch, whose The Horizon bottles have a 94:6 ratio of two different straight bourbons: one distilled from a mashbill containing 21% rye (aged 4 . Their Barrel Proof Bourbon was named Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate in 2017. And while flavorful enough, it's not all that unique, and its high price point makes it a difficult choice to get behind. Sounds like most of the finances for this experimental spirit were put to really good use in the marketing and branding department. As Malt Review shared, it's "mouth-puckeringly tart at first" with an "iron-like stiffness from the beginning to the end of the mouth" and "the spiciness of Big Red chewing gum." Instead of watery muted notes, this suffers from a bit of a burn that overpowers whats in the whiskey. This whiskey was also rated 95 points in 2012 by The Tasting Paneland won a silver medalat the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2016. If these famous individuals had more options, would they have still picked Old Crow? That's so smooth, it's criminal. The 18 Best Bourbon Whiskey Brands to Drink in 2023 - Town & Country It's just sitting there, complacent, without much fight in it at all. While a wallop, Batch 033 still drinks surprisingly smooth, with notes of applesauce, candied . Officially defined as American-made corn-based whiskey aged in new charred oak barrels, bourbon first emerged in the 1780s in Kentucky, where settlers from Scotland and Ireland adapted their whiskey-making skills to local ingredients, as explained byThe Spruce Eats. The Beam (originally Boehm) family settled in Kentucky and began selling whiskey there in 1795, according to The Whiskey Reviewer. The juice is then rested for six years before blending, cutting down to proof, and barreling, which, in turn, means that theres still a little sourced juice in the mix here. There have been some new additions to Wild Turkey's rye lineup in recent years, including the high-end Master's Keep Cornerstone Rye, a blend of nine- to 11-year-old whiskey bottled at 109 proof . It must be encoded somewhere in our DNA who doesn't like owning attractive and expensive items? Kentucky Gentleman Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery (Sazerac Co.) ABV: 40% (80 proof) Price: $8.49. Garrison Brothers is the first legal whiskey distillery outside of Kentucky, meaning they've obtained the proper permits from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to lawfully produce and distribute spirits through different businesses, vendors, and retailers (via Cobb & Counsel). Brought to you by the Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company (not to be confused with Lexington Bourbon, the ones who brought you the bottle with a horse on it), Town Branch Kentucky Straight can only be described as a waste of money. But unfortunately, this spirit doesn't seem to live up to its trademark slogan: "You never forget your first sip of Basil Hayden." Whiskey Warehouse reviewed this spirit on YouTube, pointing out that it's thin and really has nothing going for it, other than smelling (and tasting) like watered-down bourbon. This Heaven Hill bourbon is standard bourbon made with its iconic mash bill of 78 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and ten percent rye (the same as Evan Williams and Elijah Craig). So you'd think that this boozy elixir would, you know, at least have some nice legs on it. Redditors don't recommend it. While whiskey can be made anywhere, bourbon can only be made in the United States, according to Distiller, and its mash bill (grain composition) must contain at least 51% corn, a grain native to the Americas. As The Whiskey Reviewer noted, the Black Bourbon, in particular, "would be appropriate for an inexpensive go-to, for cocktails or mixers.". That's what the folks at Jim Beam call it when you take a big gulp of bourbon and move it around your mouth to get all the flavor nuances (via The Bourbon Room). While 95% of all bourbon is made in Kentucky, the spirit can be and is crafted elsewhere. Superstar chef Wolfgang Puck offers both fine dining at his flagship Beverly Hills restaurant and frozen supermarket pizzas for the masses, and some chic designers offer both bespoke runway pieces and fast fashion at Target. 13. Photo by David Prince. In case you were wondering, yes: This is actually named after someone's grandfather. Its also an essential cocktail mixing bourbon for any bar cart. Old Grand-Dad is actually quite memorable, but not in the way little Raymond was hoping. Fighting Cock Bourbon also called the "kickin' chicken" makes the regrettable bourbons list not because it's overpriced. Best Bourbons of 2022 | Wine Enthusiast - winemag.com Best Bourbons of 2022 | Breaking Bourbon This Lawrenceburg, KY-based distillery utilizes two mash bills and five proprietary yeast strains to create 10 total bourbon recipes, each one providing a unique flavor experience. But unlike most other bourbon brands, Maker's Mark does not contain any rye, instead supplementing the corn with red winter wheat, according to The Spruce Eats. The juice in the bottle is a year younger than a typical Jim Beam bourbon so three-ish years and it is cut way down to 80 proof for bottling. The mash bill is mid-range rye with 18 percent of the grain next to 72 percent corn and a final ten percent of malted barley (the same bill for all their bourbon). It mixes well, and it's a decent sipper. So if you've ever enjoyed bourbon from Maker's Mark or Jim Beam, know that you've experienced a taste of early American history. The end is another left turn with a dusting of dark chocolate with a hint of honey as the water kicks in a fades out the stone fruit, spice, and oak pretty quickly. You're better than that. Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Apparently not, because it's also pretty thin. The juice in this bottle is from Buffalo Traces Mash #1, which has a scant amount of barley and rye next to mostly corn. The List: Best Bourbon, According To The Experts. A1A Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom. 15+ Best Top-Shelf Bourbon Whiskeys in The World (2023 Guide) These Are The 10 Best-Selling Bourbons, According To Drizly - Forbes Just get an Evan Williams White Label. Today, many of Old Forester's expressions are formulated and marketed to evoke the brand's long history. The end is long and leaves you with that boozy burn and a touch more of that sweet corn and butter. Someone thought it was a good idea to hook up withTabasco brand hot sauce and bottle and sell the offspring for around $25. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, Angel's Envy takes pride in creating small-batch spirits that are finished in one of four different casks: port, rum, sherry, and tawny. Proof: 112.8. Celebrity Workouts Ab Workouts Leg Workouts Total-Body Workouts Arms Workouts Chest . According to Breaking Bourbon, the original Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher and said to be the inventor of the process of aging bourbon in charred oak barrels. It has a light mouthfeel and is less sweet than its aroma would suggest. Knob Creek's Kentucky Straight Smoked Maple seems to be, according to some bourbon fans, a bad execution of a good idea. 8 Brand Average Price: roughly $12 ABV: 40% The oak aging gives this Bourbon dry and spicy character. While one of the most familiar bourbon brands, Jim Beam is not known for its depth or subtlety. To put a finer point on it, Id be lying if I said I loved every bourbon I tasted. And given the other options at this price point, there are definitely better spirits available to scratch your rye whiskey itch.". The bottle works wonders in a cocktail and is perfectly fine for an on the rocks sip of whiskey. 10 Best High-Rye Bourbons in 2023 | HiConsumption The Whiskey Jug reviewed Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and the tasting notes seem to be echoed across the web. For $13, you can get some Very Old Barton from the same distillery. What is the Worst Cheap Bourbon? 13 Listed (2023 Updated) Reviewers on Flaviar state that the juice is weak with little flavor, with a hint of mud in the background. The Whiskey Shelf noted that it "has some of the quintessential bourbon flavors, but overall there's not a lot going on," and Breaking Bourbon said its "straightforward and approachable flavor profile" makes it a "good base for cocktails.". But if all you care about is the results, scroll down to see which of the 21 bourbon brands we tried worked the best in an Old-Fashioned cocktail -- and which . ", This 80 proof has a nice, golden color and a label that looks like an old vintage medicine bottle. The oak, dark spice, brown sugars, and whisper of corn linger on your senses through the medium finish. From Heaven Hill Distillery, Henry McKenna is a lovely sipping bourbon with slight herbaceous notes and hints of spices and honey. Whiskey Thief Uncut Unfiltered may sound like it's coming to a theater near you, but it's actually a bourbon brought to you by Three Boys Farm Distillery. George T. Stagg comes in dense and robust-bodied texture. I know that sounds flippant, but every major distillery has a few expressions that lurk on the bottom shelf in plastic bottles with screwtop caps. Simply because the goal of this distillery TerrePURE Spirits, alias Terreesentia is to reduce the aging time a whiskey needs from years to hours (via Thirty One Whiskey). . Woodford Reserve is a modern bourbon brand with deep roots per Breaking Bourbon, it's produced and bottled in a distillery dating back to 1780. Wellness Weight Loss Nutrition. Best Bourbons for 2023: Top 5 Bottles Most Recommended By Expert What tastes like creamed corn blended with scorched plastic, but comes in a really cool genie bottle? Jesse James Bourbon 5. Unfortunately, you can't make a wish and ask for your $50 back. While not as big a name as Jim Beam or Wild Turkey, it's a widely distributed brand that you can serve at a big party without breaking the bank, yet won't be ashamed to mix into a cocktail for that bourbon snob friend. George Dickel Bourbon. Sneaky. While Basil Hayden's tasted watered down and not worth the money, Old Grand-Dad pivots 180 degrees into the land of long-lasting acetone burn devoid of taste (via Distiller). KOVAL Distillery doesn't believe in limiting itself to crafting just one single artisanal spirit, as evidenced by its varied selection of spirits includingbourbon,gin,and flavored liqueur. What makes Elijah Craig a critical favorite is its complexity and balance. (That's a good thing.). The 30 Best Bourbons (2023) | VinePair 5) Best Single Barrel Bourbon - Henry McKenna. Why the sub-par reviews? A finely balanced whisky that's sweet but not cloying, smooth but still memorable, 1792 Sweet Wheat is lovely enjoyed neat or on the rocks. The result is a full flavored whiskey that goes down easy. Barton doesnt disclose the mash bill but it is aged at least four years. But it successfully managed to earn both public acceptance and respect, even becoming the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby. This cocktail mixes Scotch and/or Bourbon with maple syrup and bitters for a smoky-yet-sweet drink. Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Four Roses Four Roses Four in the title, but the magic number here is 10. Best Value: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. And why be disappointed (or even disgusted) when you can be satisfied for just a few bucks more? These Are the 81 Best-Tasting Bourbons, According to Experts Beyond that, its cut down to 80 proof with plenty of Kentucky limestone water and bottled in plastic. And there are a lot of expressions, from their flagship 80-proof bourbon to their small-batch, single-barrel, and limited releases, offering bourbon geeks numerous options to collect and explore. And the similarities don't end there Basil Hayden's even boasts the same rye-forward malt bill as Old Grand-Dad. It's the bestselling bourbon in the entire world (via VinePair ), so chances are that when the average consumer thinks about this particular whiskey type, Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the taste at the tip of their tongue. Hard pass. Its balance and wide appeal are what puts Knob Creek near the top of our list. The Best (And Worst) Bourbons To Use In An Old-Fashioned It also explains why the label has a picture of a brown horse on the front. Some reviewers on Flaviar noted that it had a rather off-putting aftertaste, and the word harsh came up multiple times. Maker's Mark Judging by how utterly unpalatable the Kentucky Straight Bourbon is on its own, maybe the company should stick to beer.
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