Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon
Among the most expensive bourbons, costing $250 a bottle, weve got the Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon. Its an uncut and unfiltered whiskey in its purest form, carefully selected by Donnis Todd and then set aside for several more years of maturation.
The Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon could be considered the liquid gold of Texas whiskeys. Its the closest thing to perfection and its price is simply a reflection of that.
On the nose theres a sour mash and sweet pipe tobacco, and the palate brings toffee, cherry, and vanilla. This is 135 proof, so not for the faint of heart. Despite the extremely high price tag, the batches sell quickly, which means only one thing. Its well worth those $250.
Saint Liberty Berties Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon
With a rich history behind them, the Saint Liberty distillery rises to high expectations. Their Berties Bear Gulch Straight Bourbon comes in bottles with a design that draws inspiration from the antique bottles of the early 1900s.
The bourbon presents itself with a sweet nose with hints of stone fruit and orange. The taste continues with dark molasses and caramelized vanilla, subtle notes of burnt brown sugar, and apricots, rounded by a touch of smoke at the end.
Its got a nice amber color and a peppery smoothness to it that makes it a good fit for cocktails.
The Best Bourbons Over $100
Bookers Bourbon 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch
The fourth and final 2021 release from Bookers, this iteration was aged for 6 years, 6 months, and 12 days, and arrives at a dizzying 62.2 percent ABV. As with all cask-strength bourbons, it proves to be a heady, in-your-face experience, though not one that lacks nuance or complexity. Fruity, floral notes take charge on the intense nose, while the palate leans into baked desserts and rich caramel. Dont be afraid to add a splash of water. Average price: $113. Rating: 93.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
Launched in 2020, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel quickly won over bourbon aficionados, and bottles now fetch much more than its $50 MSRP at retail. Made by finishing standard Elijah Craig in new, custom-toasted oak barrels, the bourbon has multiple layers of aromas and flavors that go well beyond wood. Expect sweet caramel tones on the nose, and enticing coffee and dark chocolate on the palate. If you come across this bottle, dont leave it sitting on the shelf. Average price: $132. Rating: 93.
Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey
Larceny Barrel Proof A122
I.W. Harper 15-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2022
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What Makes Macallan Special
Macallan is known across the globe for producing excellent whisky and doing so consistently. They set the example for what a single malt Scotch should be. The aging process gives it balance and character, making it recognizable as a Macallan.Macallan is unique because they produce consistent quality better than most other manufacturers youll find today. Despite their large production, theyve stayed true to this quality throughout.In fact, many people think of a distillery like Macallan that produces the volume they do to be a corporate bottling facility with the bottom dollar on their mind. However, Macallan has always put quality above production numbers, and in doing so, have been able to achieve success in both.
Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon
The Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon brings a rich and vigorous character to the table of the best Texas bourbons. Its a blend of roasted blue corn, Texas wheat, rye, and malted barley, aged for two years, and non-chill filtered.
The result features delicate notes of roasted peanuts, honeysuckle, and dusty leather.
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Why Is Macallan Expensive
Macallan uses premium ingredients. It starts with the barley thats specially grown for the Macallan Distillery and ends with the aging barrels. The barley itself costs about 30-40% more than other whiskies. Because it costs more to make, it costs more to purchase, but its well worth the investment for the consistent quality they produce.
Milam & Greene Triple Cask Bourbon
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As the Triple Cask name suggests, this newcomer is a blend of three straight Bourbon whiskies: a two-year-old Texas Bourbon, a three- to four-year-old Tennessee whiskey, and a 10- to 11-year-old Tennessee whiskey. It offers complex orange peel and vanilla aromas and a silky palate that opens with vanilla and evolves into a long maple sugar finish topped up with a bit of spicy cinnamon glow. Kara Newman
All tastings reported in the Buying Guide are performed blind. Typically, products are tasted in peer-group flights of from 5-8 samples. Reviewers may know general information about a flight to provide contextvintage, variety or appellationbut never the producer or retail price of any given selection. When possible, products considered flawed or uncustomary are retasted.
Ratings reflect what our editors felt about a particular product. Beyond the rating, we encourage you to read the accompanying tasting note to learn about a products special characteristics.
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Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon
Another 100% grain to glass bourbon crafted from local Texas grains, with a mash bill of 57% corn, 32% wheat, and 11% barley, and aged for two years in American White Oak Char 3 Barrels, the Treaty Oak Ghost Hill Texas Bourbon embodies the Texass character more than any other bourbon.
It features an earthy, herbaceous note that blends nicely with the butter biscuits, caramel, honey, and rich wood flavors on the palate.
The uniqueness of this bourbon makes it an excellent choice for serving with spicy dishes.
The Best Bourbons Under $50
Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. California Oak Bourbon
Distilled in Kentucky, this high-rye release is finished using a mix of virgin French Oak staves and California Cabernet wine cask staves. The process has a noticeable and enjoyable influence on the final whiskey, imparting a prominent vanilla note and juicy red berry flavors. If youre a regular wine drinker looking to explore bourbon, this is the bottle for you. Average price: $31. Rating: 91.
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The eponymous release from the Buffalo Trace distillery, this expression remains among the most widely available and easily obtainable from the brand. That doesnt mean it should go overlooked, though. This is a solid entry-level bourbon with enjoyable caramel, brown sugar, and spice notes. It also performs valiantly when used in cocktails. Average price: $35. Rating: 91.
Hirsch Selected Whiskeys The Horizon
Hirsch combines a blend of two rye-forward Indiana-distilled bourbons for this release. The first, and majority component, is a little under 5 years old, while the second made from an even higher-rye mash bill is aged more than 6 and a half years. Unsurprisingly, rye is notable throughout, lending a black pepper spice to the nose and a sharp bite to the finish. Notes of red petals and dried cherries lend further complexity. Average price: $38. Rating: 92.
Russells Reserve 10 Years Old
Pinhook Bourbon Heist
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Five Point Lone Elm Single Barrel Texas Whiskey
Five Points Lone Elm Single Barrel Texas Whiskey brings a complex aroma full of roasted peanuts, caramel, dried leaves, blueberry, ginger, and orange peel.
Everything continues on the palate with a superb sweetness from chocolate peanut and brown sugar, and a peppery spiciness, and notes of earthy oak and pine needles.
Ironroot Republic Harbinger Bourbon
The Harbinger Bourbon is Ironroot Republics signature whiskey, a six time gold winner and one which got the 2020 Worlds Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon at the World Whiskey Awards. For the connoisseurs, it needs no introduction.
Its a non-chill filtered whiskey with a mash bill of heirloom corn stocks and rye, aged for less than three years in American and European virgin oak casks. The 115 proof bourbon brings a nose of red fruits, maple syrup, and orange marmalade, and continues with a spicy earthiness.
It may not be for the fain hearted, but it surely is a bourbon worth trying at least once in your lifetime.
Here you go. The best bourbons born in Texas, many of them multiple award-winning, some too strong for the faint of heart, but all of them delivering some of the most complex and impressive flavors and aromas.
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Ironroot Icarus Straight Corn Whiskey
Showcasing the combination of Texas good soil, perfect climate, and extreme sunlight available throughout the year, the Ironroot Republic distillery has come forward with their Icarus Straight Corn Whiskey, made from non-GMO grains.
Depending on the corn type, the results are different. For the Icarus theyve used Denison grown grains combined with heirloom purple, red flint, and yellow dent corn, creating in the end a bold, punchy and strong spirit.
Its first aged in oak barrels, a second year in peated barrels that previously held scotch and then port wine barrels, giving it an earthy and forest like smokiness, with flavors of fruits and caramel.
Macallan 18 Review: Is It Worth The Price
- Post category:Scotch
The Macallan distillery roots are deep and date back almost 200 years. The Macallan 18 is iconic and the Bank of Scotland has issued banknotes featuring the Macallan stills. Its commonly thought of as a premium whisky, directly competing with Johnnie Walkers Blue Label.
Along with the Macallan 18, you may also want to try the Macallan 12, Macallan 25, or the Macallan 30. Its nestled nicely in the middle, balancing price with exceptional taste. If youre interested in trying a whisky, this one is a great choice for beginners and experienced whisky drinkers alike.
If you are looking for a luxury scotch we DEFINITELY recommend the Macallan 18. It truly is a must-try pick that youll want to keep enjoying from the first sip to the very last drop! Full-bodied and flavourful with a long balanced finish. Worth every penny!
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The Best Bourbons Under $100
Field & Sound Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey
Produced on Long Island, this high-rye bourbon utilizes locally grown grains and sweet mash fermentation. If the heavy maritime influence, prominently referenced on the bottles label, is at all detectable, its via subtle saline notes on the nose and finish. More abundant is the attractive spice of winter rye, and bold, heady vanilla and caramel notes on the palate. This is a great craft option. Average price: $50. Rating: 92.
Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Old
Old Foresters 1910 Old Fine Whisky sees a secondary period of maturation in heavily charred oak barrels. This, the third release in the distillerys limited-edition The 117 Series, offers drinkers a glimpse at how that whiskey evolves with an extra 18 months in oak. Pouring a deep shade of maple, it exudes dark sugar and chocolate aromas, and delivers rich doses of caramel on the palate. Available from late February onward, this gift-shop and online exclusive merits the extra effort to seek out. MSRP: $50. Rating: 93.
Angels Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished In Port Wine Barrels
Finished for 3 to 6 months in port wine casks, this Angels Envy release is blended in batches of around a dozen barrels. The red wine influence stands out but doesnt overwhelm, instead complementing attractive chocolate, caramelized nut, and vanilla notes. Average price: $52. Rating: 92.
Basil Hayden Toast
Iron Wolf Select Bourbon
Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery is a relatively new distillery, founded only in 2013, but it has already released several award winning spirits, one of them being the Iron Wolf Select Bourbon.
Its a small batch bourbon with a high rye content aged between three and five years. It comes with an interesting spiciness to it, a rich aroma and flavors, and a complex finish.
Opening the bottle will let you feel a deep caramel aroma and vanilla hints, and a sip comes with sweet caramel, vanilla and that spiciness of the rye. Its one of the best Texas whiskies, recognized as such by the American Distilling Institute.
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Texas Bourbons You Will Surely Love
Milam & Greene Triple Cask
Despite the long dominance of Kentucky and Tennessee over the American whiskey market, theres a new player in the industry, one that comes with unsubdued boldness, an outlaw spirit, and some of the best bourbon whiskey you could get your hands on today.
That novel player is Texas, with over 130 spirits distilleries on its territory and a climate that the Bourbon County in Kentucky could only envy.
Theres nothing wrong with the bourbons that come from Kentucky, or other states like Tennessee, but theyre not the only fine bourbons in the United States. Texas is also home to some fantastic offerings of this traditional American spirit, despite that its first legal distillery opened less than 20 years ago.
What makes Texas advantageous is its hot and dry climate, with extremely high temperatures throughout the year, allowing bourbon to be aged for two years to achieve the same results that Kentucky gets in at least four.
Texas bourbon whiskey presents itself as big and bold in flavor, with a big proof as well, a result of the heat and humid environment across the lone star state. Weve rounded up the best of the best bourbons coming from some of the most brilliant distilleries in Texas, and were more than sure youll love them.
Contents
Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky
Another one of a kind spirit from Balcones, the Texas Single Malt Whisky, is made through century old distilling techniques.
The nose is full of freshly baked banana bread, with slight notes of vanilla and honey. The palate comes with fresh butter and marmalade that further gives way to baked pears and apples.
The finish is long and comes with notes of burnt sugar, rich malt, and wood.
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The 30 Best Bourbons For Every Budget
Bourbon continues to rank among the most popular distilled spirits in the United States and its not just sales seeing a spike. As the number of producers in the country goes from strength to strength, so too does the range of styles in the category, with distillers turning to innovative fermentation and aging techniques, as well as left-field grains to stand out.
The tasting for VinePairs 2022 edition of our annual bourbon roundup offered great insight into how broad and deep the category has grown. Among the more than 150 bottles considered, we sampled brands from across the country, and encountered more craft expressions than ever before.
Speaking of craft, a large portion of the bottles considered this year came from independent brands that source their whiskey from Indiana . While this practice has been looked down upon by some in the past, the majority of brands employing that strategy now are increasingly transparent about their whiskeys origins. Producers in that field who made it onto this list did so by taking the spirit in a new direction via a finishing technique or proprietary aging process, or by blending with their own whiskey and achieving harmonious results.
With all that said, here are 30 of the best bourbons to drink in 2022.
Still Austin The Musician Straight Bourbon
Still Austin is the first whiskey distillery in the states capital and one that quickly gained a following, becoming many whiskey drinkers favorite producer. They use only Texas grains grown locally, and they produce everything on site, including their still, called Nancy.
Their signature whiskey, The Musician Straight Bourbon, comes with a mash bill of chef-grade corn, rye, and malted barley, giving it a sweetness mixed with a little bit of spiciness from the rye. Its aged for only two years, but the end result brings rich flavors.
The nose has a rich sweetness, with aromas of vanilla, sugared strawberries, maple syrup, berries, banana bread, and toasted marshmallow, and the palate brings honeysuckle, orange blossom, and chocolate covered cherries. The finish completes everything, giving you the feeling of music in the bottle.
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Herman Marshall Texas Bourbon
Crafted from 77% Texas corn and 23% malted barley, the Herman Marshall Texas Bourbon comes with a smooth, rich and refreshing taste, one that quickly became a favorite of many seasoned veterans.
After fermenting the mash in 500 gallon Cyprus wood tanks, its distilled in steam heated 400 gallon copper stills, and finally aged for four years under the hot Texas sun.
The centuries old techniques used bring out an intense complexity and straightforward character, with light caramel, ginger bread and apple on the nose, and flavors of honey and sweet spiciness, before finishing with a lingering sweetness.
Ben Milam Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Ben Milams Straight Bourbon Whiskey backs up the catchy slogan To the bold, the true, the gallant. with its smoothness and magnificent complexity.
Its an award winning, small batch, and carefully selected bourbon that can be sipped straight or on the rocks, but it also does wonders in cocktails.
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Ranger Creek 36 Texas Straight Bourbon
The Ranger Creek .36 Texas Straight Bourbon is another award winning bourbon, the flagship of the distillery. They use corn sourced from local farms in Texas, and age it for at least two years.
The final drink has a thickness similar to maple syrup, has a slightly higher alcohol content than most spirits, and comes with notes of light cinnamon, mellow caramel, and butterscotch, with a nose of brown sugar, grape, berries and vanilla.
Its an iconic drink that has won many awards but its price tag keeps it well in the affordable range.