Since moving to Tennessee, I’ve moved from being a Bourbon n00b to someone who loves to sip the delicious ones. There is a huge difference between common popular swill like Jim Beam and Jack Daniel’s to those in this list. And it’s not about price, but taste. And of course, we all have our own taste – heck, even JD does taste good once in a while, if for no other reason than nostalgia. And by the way, if you are a Christian who wonders about drinking, check out my post on this topic entitled 10 Biblical Points on Alchohol and Drinking.
Last Update: 03.06.2022
My Favorite Bourbons
- EH Taylor small batch
- Hancock President’s Reserve (smooth as your baby’s bottom)
- Pinhook War
- Blanton’s (a standard)
- Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon
- Jefferson’s Small Batch
- Willett Pot Still Bourbon (great bottle too)
- Henry McKenna 10
- Weller (12 or Antique)
- Angels Envy Finished Rye
- Elijah Craig Small Batch (my $30 fave)
Good Also-Rans
- Angels Envy. (floral and smooth, great for sipping or Old Fashions)
- Basil Haden Toast
- Blue Note 9 Year (unique flavor)
- Buffalo Trace
- Bulleit
- Chattanooga 91 Solera Barrel Finished
- Calumet
- Eagle Rare (over hyped?)
- Early Times (a great $30 bottle)
- Four Roses Small Batch
- Hibiki. (complex and smoky almost like a scotch, but sweet like bourbon)
- High West
- Hudson’s Baby Bourbon (100% corn mash, not for everyone)
- Jefferson Reserve
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
- A Mid Winters Night Dram (really good if you can find it)
- New Riff
- Old Hickory (a surprisingly decent $20 80-proof bourbon)
- Stagg Jr
Not Good IMO
- 1792
- 1792 Sweet Wheat
- Basil Haden
- Belle Mead
- Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon
- Bookers (hot!)
- Chattanooga Cask 111
- Evan Williams Single Barrel
- Heaven’s Door
- Jack Daniels
- Jameson (terrible)
- Jim Beam
- Knob Creek
- Larceny
- Makers Mark
- Noah’s Mill
- Old Forester
- Old Grand Dad
- Old Scout
- Rowans Creek
- Russels
- Seagrams (terrible)
- Traverse City Whiskey Co.
- Wathen’s Kentucky Bourbon
- Wild Turkey
- Woodford Reserve
