SPIRITS WE LOVE! Six Kick-Ass Bourbons Worth Drinking Now

Small Batch Select was introduced by Four Roses in 2019 and has remained a member of the distillery’s core portfolio ever since. To create this 6-7-year-old bourbon, Master Distiller Brent Elliott employs a blend of six recipes: OBSV (delicate fruit and rye), OBSK (rye and baking spice), OBSF (delicate rye and mint), OESV (delicate fruit and caramel), OESK (baking spice), and OESF (light grain and mint). Bottled non-chill filtered at a robust 104 proof, this “exceptionally drinkable” expression is “well balanced and tasty with caramel-covered orange, apples, and spice, capped by a clean and fruity finish with hints of toasty oak and chocolate.”

This seven-year-old flagship bourbon by Heaven Hill had big shoes to fill when it replaced the popular HH 6-year-old expression in 2019. At around $15, the fan favorite was considered one of the best values in bourbon at the time. But while the price is higher, the “generous palate” is undoubtedly on point, featuring “roasted herbs and baking spices plus dark chocolate and polished oak.” Made from the same recipe as sister brand Elijah Craig of 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley,” this “classic example of a fine and versatile bourbon” is perfect for sipping neat but still affordable enough to justify in an elevated old fashioned.

The lion’s share of this “rich and decadent” blend of five different bourbons from Jefferson’s is made from 11-year-old Kentucky Straight. From there, things become more complex as this base whiskey is layered with various styles, including a 14-Year-Old Tennessee Straight, eight-year-old bourbon, rum cask finish, and a wheated double barrel bourbon. The blending gymnastics here pay off; our judges praised its “clean and smooth sip with bursts of cinnamon and brown sugar plus dried fruits galore.”

To create this “assertive yet approachable” limited edition bourbon, Head Taster and Blender John Wadell and the Peerless team mature Louisville-made pot still distillate in Kelvin Cooperage crafted level three char barrels. From there, the whiskey is finished in medium toasted oak, resulting in an “impressive” sip featuring “sweet and tangy bourbon with a lovely dusty nose, a beautiful mouthfeel, and a solid peppery finish.” “Bravo!”

Leiper’s Fork proprietors Lee and Lynlee Kennedy should be proud of their small-town, small-batch approach to making whiskey in rural Williamson County, Tennessee. Case-in-point is this bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon, made from locally grown, non-GMO grains that are pot-distilled and bottled sans-chill-filtering for maximum flavor. The result is an impressive 92-point rating from our Barleycorn Tasting Council, who were wowed by this “delicious and well-balanced” whiskey thanks to its “gorgeous, creamy mouthfeel” and “mysterious mix of dark fruit and warm baking spices.”

The name “15 STARS” is a nod to Kentucky becoming the 15th state to join the Union. Since its inception in 2021, the blending house built by father and son duo Rick and Ricky Johnson has been making incredible expressions. After winning Best American Whiskey in our Fall 2023 competition, 15 Stars returned strong with an rare 95-point rating this past spring with this 8 & 15 YO Private Stock Bourbon. Sourced from Kentucky, this “carefully constructed” whiskey rocks a “palate of red fruit and pralines, leading to a satisfying finish with spicy oak, cherry cola, hints of licorice, and clove.” “Well done!”