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The Best Bourbon Whiskies to Buy in 2023, According to Experts
Looking to add a bottle of bourbon to your bar cart? These are top rated drams for sipping and sharing, according to experts
Perennially popular across the pond, Brits are quickly developing a thirst for bourbon. Though intrinsically linked to the “Bluegrass State’ of Kentucky” – where 95% of the world’s supply is produced – unlike scotch whisky, there are no geographical restrictions as to where bourbon can be made, with new distilleries cropping up across America every year.
While you can invest in rare releases from the likes of George T. Stagg, Eagle Rare and William Larue Weller, there are a lot of exceptional options at a more affordable price point if you’re planning on experimenting with bourbon-based cocktails or seeking a weeknight sipper.
Best bourbon to buy in 2023
What’s the difference between bourbon and whiskey?
All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon... you follow? Simply put, what distinguishes bourbon from other whiskeys is the way it’s produced and matured. To be classified as bourbon, its mash (that is, the mixture of grains to be distilled) must contain at least 51% corn, which gives it its distinctive sweet aroma. Any other grains can be used in the other 49%, and those are usually a combination of wheat, rye, and malted barley.
Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels and bottled at no less than 40% ABV. There isn’t a minimum ageing requirement, however bourbon must be aged for a minimum of two years to be labelled as “straight bourbon” and a minimum of three to be recognised as whiskey in the EU.
What does bourbon taste like?
Strict laws dictate that no flavourings, colourings or additives can be added to bourbon. What you taste is all natural and typically characterised by aromas of vanilla, oak, caramel and spice.
How to drink bourbon
Take your lead from scotch whisky drinking protocols and enjoy bourbon from a Glencairn glass. The curved vessel enhances the aromas and overall imbibing experience.
Most bourbons benefit from some dilution to temper the alcohol and spice, allowing the sweetness to shine through, so don’t be afraid to add a dash of water to your dram. Bourbon is a mainstay in many classic cocktails, too, including manhattans, mint juleps, and boulevardiers.
How we test bourbon
We recruited a panel of spirits experts and bourbon enthusiasts to put a selection of leading brands to the test. Each was tested blind; first neat, then diluted with a dash of water to soften the alcohol and allow the underlying aromas to shine through.
Their criteria? Well-integrated aromas of caramel, vanilla, oak and spice, with a smooth mouthfeel and enough versatility to work hard on your bar cart.
These are the seven bottles that ticked all the boxes.
E. H. Taylor Small Batch
EH pays homage to the man we have to thank for bringing modern bourbon to the masses: Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor. A classic Kentucky drop, light oak and buttery vanilla aromas abound (we’re talking flapjack in liquid form), with bitter citrus peel to round out the blend.
70cl, 50%
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
If you’re new to bourbon, then Wild Turkey is your safest bet. We’re yet to find anyone that doesn’t get on with the mellow flavours of white pepper, caramel and clove, coupled with a smooth, honey-sweet finish. The classic blend was taken up a notch to 58.4% ABV recently, but it's managed to maintain the easy drinking quality that has so many bourbon buffs returning to this bottle.
70cl, 58.4%
Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Finish
Angel's Envy Bourbon Port Finish
Unlike any other bourbon we put to our panel, Angel’s Envy enjoys a final maturation phase in port barrels. The gamble paid off, resulting in a perfect marriage between the sweet caramel and toasted grain quality of the bourbon and a deep red fruit flavour with unparalleled smoothness imparted by the port casks. One to sip and savour.
70cl, 43.3%
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey
Since hitting the market in 2017, Uncle Nearest 1856 has racked up more awards than we can count — and after our tasting, it’s not hard to see why. Exceptionally smooth with a mellow mouthfeel, it’ll bring welcome sweetness in the form of butterscotch, vanilla and coconut to your classic boulevardier.
70cl, 50%
Never Say Die Barrel Strength Bourbon
Never Say Die Barrel Strength Bourbon
Bring out the big guns with this barrel strength bourbon. Bottled at 61.1% ABV, it brings bold flavours of treacle, orange peel, black pepper, leather and will warm your cockles in all weathers. Lively in the glass with a long finish, we recommend enjoying on the rocks with a dash of distilled water to help temper the higher strength.
70cl, 61.1%
FEW Bourbon
FEW Bourbon
Proof that great bourbons can be born outside Kentucky, this three-grain bourbon from Chicago’s FEW distillery won our panel over with its opening hint of sweet vanilla, which builds to a spicier crescendo of ginger, clove, cooked apple and burnt toffee, thanks to the high rye content.
70cl, 46.5%
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
If we’re recommending the best entry-level bourbon, it’s always Woodford Reserve. But not for a lack of complexity; the palate offers up sweet vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark berries and white pepper that hit every high note for our panel. A creamy finish coupled with lingering rye spice makes it versatile enough to sip straight up or enjoy in a bourbon sidecar.
70cl, 50%.
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