If you’ve ever had bourbon, chances are good it was Jim Beam.
Jim Beam is by far the most popular bourbon in the world (and nearly the most popular American whiskey, with Jack Daniels narrowly edging it out).
So it’s the most popular, but is it really the best?
Plenty of bourbon afficionados would beg to differ.
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And hey, maybe they have a point!
So I thought I’d collect a list of some of the best bourbons I’ve tried (often at the recommendation of people who’ve been doing this sort of thing for a while) and see what you think.
Get ready for some great flavors, starting with:
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The price: $$$
What makes it great: So smooth! And Wild Turkey’s finish carries definite notes of brown sugar. In general, if you’re trying to get someone “in” to bourbon beyond “just” mixed drinks, in my opinion this is one of your best options.
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The price: $$$
What makes it great: Great taste, reasonable price point, smooth finish – Maker’s is a great mixer and is a good option on the rocks. If you’re sipping neat, I’d personally go for something more like…
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The price: $$$
What makes it great: Buffalo Trace has beautiful hints of anise, brown sugar, toffee, and oak. This is, for my money, the best bourbon you can get for under $30. (Feel free to disagree in the comments.)
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The price: $$$$
What makes it great: Woodford Reserve is a fantastic bourbon, and it’s priced like it. You’ll get hints of banana and orange in the aroma, with a beautiful taste of candied fruit (especially cherries) and vanilla once you take a sip. This is a fantastic sipping bourbon and is one of my personal go-to drinks.
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The price: $$$
What makes it great: Old Forester has got a nice sharp nose, with hints of pine, oak, and pepper – make sure you’re ready for it. Fortunately, the finish is quite a bit smoother, with vanilla and orange leading. This is a solid bourbon for folks who aren’t bourbon snobs but just love a dram.
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The price: $$
What makes it great: Four Roses is probably the most complex bourbon on this list – there are going to be a lot of flavors, and you’ll need to drink a lot of it over the years to fully sort them all out. (Such a hardship!) It’s a little bit like reading an old, great book – there’s always more layers to uncover.
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The price: $$$$
What makes it great: I enjoy 1792 small batch because it’s really one of the smoothest bourbons I’ve ever had. Very fruity – especially for a “young” bourbon (the general thinking is that 1792 small batch is 4-5 years old) – you’ll get loads of the traditional bourbon notes of cherry and orange, but also some raisin and candied fruit. Highly recommend.
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The price: $$$
What makes it great: Possibly the smoothest bourbon of the bunch (and that’s saying something), Bulleit has very little bite and is strongly honey-forward. Great for someone who doesn’t usually like bourbon. I keep a bottle around for sipping when I’m in the mood for a mellow end to my day.
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The price: $
What makes it great: Jim Beam is one of the most recognized bourbons out there, and for good reason. With hints of caramel, oak, and vanilla and a mellow sweetness, it’s a great mixer and solid on the rocks.
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So there you have it – eight bourbons whose fans would absolutely claim they have a leg-up on Jim Beam.
(Of course, they’re all priced like it too.)
Which leads me to two big questions:
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#1: What do YOU think? Are any or all of these bourbons better?
#2: What great bourbons did I leave off the list?
Let us know in the comments!
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