Skip to content

Top Navigation

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Recipes & Cooking
  • Drinks
  • Travel
  • Holidays & Events
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Food & Wine

Food & Wine Food & Wine
  • Explore

    Explore

    • F&W Cooks

      Food and Wine presents a new network of food pros delivering the most cookable recipes and delicious ideas online. Read More Next
    • Our 22 Best Crock Pot and Slow-Cooker Recipes

      Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can can take your comfort food to the next level. Read More Next
    • 50 Affordable Wines You Can Always Trust

      We’ve assembled a list of 50 of the world’s most reliable, inexpensive wines – bottles that offer amazing quality for their price year in and year out. Read More Next
  • Recipes & Cooking

    Recipes & Cooking

    See All Recipes & Cooking
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Comfort Food Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Pasta & Noodle Recipes
    • Chefs
    • Meat & Poultry Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Fruit Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Special Diets
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Steal This Trick
  • Drinks

    Drinks

    See All Drinks
    • Wine
    • Cocktails & Spirits
    • Coffee Drinks & Recipes
    • Juices
    • Beer & Brews
    • Champagne & Sparkling Wine
    • Tea Recipes & Ideas
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    • Wine Regions
    • Restaurants
  • Holidays & Events

    Holidays & Events

    See All Holidays & Events
    • Valentine's Day
    • Halloween
    • Passover
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • Gifts
    • Super Bowl
    • Easter
    • Thanksgiving
    • New Year's Eve
    • Holiday Entertaining
  • News
  • F&W Classic
  • Video
  • Kitchen & Home
  • F&W Pro

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Profile

Your Profile

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Wine Club
  • Podcast
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Cocktails & Spirits Chevron Right
  3. 12 Essential Bourbons for Your Liquor Cabinet

12 Essential Bourbons for Your Liquor Cabinet

By Food & Wine
Updated November 29, 2018
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Credit: Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery
What’s not to love about the quintessential American whiskey? Bourbon is an enduring favorite, a spirit that survived the years of Prohibition; survived the decades when most drinkers opted for Cosmos and Cuervo over classic whiskey; and has recently exploded in popularity, to such an extent that many distillers can’t keep up with the demand. We all associate bourbon with Kentucky, but it’s a common misconception that all bourbon is from Kentucky. Not so. While there are many requirements for true bourbon—like that it must be made from at least 50 percent corn, and aged in charred new American oak barrels—it can be made anywhere in America. All bourbons share a certain character, the comforting scent of vanilla and caramel and wood, the pleasant heft of an aged spirit. But moving beyond that, they’re all over the map: some are distinctly sweet, others have a bit of spice; some are so smooth they drink like a cocktail, others so powerful they’ll send a shiver down your spine. While there are dozens of bourbons we could recommend, here are twelve to know and to drink—from low-end to high, well-known to a little less so. —Carey Jones
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Maker’s Mark

Credit: Courtesy of Maker's Mark

One of the best-known and best-selling bourbons out there, Maker’s Mark is iconic; even those who aren’t whiskey fans will recognize their red wax-sealed bottle. It’s a great gateway bourbon for the whiskey-curious, as it’s quite sweet, and deliberately so. The distillery calls it a “front-of-palate bourbon,” meaning it lands on the front of your tongue, where the sweetness receptors are, rather than the back. Maker’s use of wheat alongside corn and malted barley (rather than rye), their production methods, and their proprietary yeast all contribute to its distinctive sweet caramel-vanilla taste. Best for: Juleps, sipping neat Find it: wine.com

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Knob Creek

Credit: Courtesy of Beam Suntory

Now in its 25th year of production, Knob Creek is an unapologetic, full-flavored bourbon—long-aged and barreled up at 100 proof. As a result, it’s robust and woody, ideal for those who want a whiskey with power, but still pleasantly sweet, with notes of maple and caramel. Best for: Stiff drinks like a Boulevardier Find it: wine.com

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Woodford Reserve

Credit: Courtesy of Woodford Reserve

There are hundreds of bourbons out there, and while many of the more esoteric bottles are great, it’s also good to have a widely available go-to—a bourbon you’re sure to find at just about every liquor store and just about every sizable bar. If you’re not a Maker’s or a Knob Creek person, you might be a Woodford person. It’s an elegant whiskey on the lighter side and almost creamy in texture, fruity and lively and as smooth as they come. Best for: Bright, lively drinks like a whiskey sour or Seelbach Find it: wine.com or flaviar.com

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Old Forester

Credit: Courtesy of Old Forester

When I think of an absolute classic Kentucky bourbon, I think of Old Forester. In its fifth generation of family production, Old Forester was the first bourbon in Kentucky to be bottled—a huge step toward guaranteeing quality and boosting bourbon’s reputation. Today, Forester releases a line of “Whiskey Row” bourbons that each emulate a style of the past; the 1870 aims to recreate their first batch, while the 1897 and 1920 recall later styles. But I’m a fan of their classic 86-proof, bright and balanced and mixable. Best for: Classic cocktails, starting with an Old Fashioned Find it: flaviar.com or wine.com

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Buffalo Trace

Credit: Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

While Buffalo Trace, the distillery, has been in operation for more than 200 years, its flagship bourbon, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey, only dates back to 1999. Intended for mixed drinks, it’s a beautifully balanced whiskey, vanilla and spice on the nose, smooth and less sweet than many of its counterparts. A Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned is too sweet for me; a Buffalo Trace Manhattan, not at all. Best for: Classic cocktails, starting with an Old Fashioned Find it: flaviar.com

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Evan Williams Black Label

Credit: Courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery

Bourbon is an everyman’s spirit, and as such it’s still possible to get a solid bottle for under $20. And you can often find a liter of Evan Williams Black Label for around $15. Up at 86 proof, it’s got just enough muscle to it, a smooth spirit with classic oak and caramel notes. It’s not the world’s most sophisticated bourbon, but it’s one of the best values out there. Bring a bottle to a party—it’s cheaper than wine and you’ll get a whole lot more drinkin’ out of it. Best for: Anything simple—mixing with ginger ale or Coke Find it: flaviar.com

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Old Grand-Dad 100-Proof

Credit: Courtesy of Beam Suntory

Another excellent value, Old Grand-Dad has a higher rye content than many bourbons out there, giving it a definitive spice; I’m partial to the 100-proof, whose extra heat makes it more powerful still. Another great party bottle. Best for: Drinking straight with a beer alongside Find it: wine.com

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Four Roses Small Batch

Credit: Courtesy of Four Roses Distillery

While I’ll never say anything against the classic Four Roses Yellow Label (another fantastic value) I’m partial to their Small Batch. At a respectable 90 proof, it hits the right note between spicy and fruity, with a long, smooth finish; it’s one of those spirits that keeps evolving as you drink it. A perfect gift bottle. (Just make sure you get to taste some.) Best for: Sipping on the rocks, letting it evolve with the ice melt Find it: wine.com

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Elijah Craig Small Batch

Credit: Courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery

While Elijah Craig 12-Year was a favorite among many bourbon aficionados, the Heaven Hill distillery recently replaced it with Elijah Craig Small Batch. Though it no longer carries an age statement, it’s bottled from bourbon between 8 and 12 years old, so there’s some real longevity; and the whiskey remains an intriguing balance of caramel-vanilla on the nose, fruit and spice on the palate. Best for: Sipping neat Find it: wine.com or flaviar.com

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Booker’s

Credit: Courtesy of Beam Suntory

Most bourbons (and most whiskeys generally for that matter), are brought down to proof when they come out of the barrel, ending up at 40-50 percent ABV. Not so with barrel-strength bourbons. While many brands have barrel-strength releases, Booker’s does nothing but; every batch is a unique release, bottled at barrel proof (often north of 60 percent) and unfiltered. The results vary with every batch, but are always intense, interesting, and for true bourbon fans, worth seeking out. Best for: Sipping neat Find it: reservebar.com

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Old Weller Antique

Credit: Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Like Maker’s Mark, this is a wheated bourbon; unlike Maker’s Mark, it’s bold and forward, thanks in large part to its 107 proof. It’s hard to believe you can find this bottle for around $25. Great for cocktails that benefit from a higher proof like a Manhattan. Best for: Mixed drinks like Manhattans Find it: flaviar.com

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

W.L. Weller 12 Year

Credit: Courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Pappy Van Winkle is the cult name in Kentucky, a wheated bourbon whose star has risen exponentially in the past five years. Realistically: You’re not getting your hands on a bottle of Pappy. So opt for a similar wheated bourbon that’s made, in fact, at the same distillery. At 12-years-old, it’s rich and almost unctuous, its complex flavor evolving on the palate. At around $35, it’s a tremendous value for a high-end bottle.  Best for: Sipping neat Find it: flaviar.com

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Food & Wine

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 12 Maker’s Mark
2 of 12 Knob Creek
3 of 12 Woodford Reserve
4 of 12 Old Forester
5 of 12 Buffalo Trace
6 of 12 Evan Williams Black Label
7 of 12 Old Grand-Dad 100-Proof
8 of 12 Four Roses Small Batch
9 of 12 Elijah Craig Small Batch
10 of 12 Booker’s
11 of 12 Old Weller Antique
12 of 12 W.L. Weller 12 Year

Share options

Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Login

Food & Wine

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Books from Food & Wine
  • Contact Us
  • Media Kit
  • Content Licensing

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
Food & Wine is part of the Meredith Corporation Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com

View image

12 Essential Bourbons for Your Liquor Cabinet
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.