ModernThirst's Comparison Reviews of Wheated Bourbons: 2020 ModernThirst. Please be responsible. This tends to produce a softer, less spicy whiskey. Distillery: Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, KY (Brown-Forman) Vanilla and toffee are present with a sense of the wheat. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle. Theres a bit more of a pine woodiness on the palate of this one next to the toffee, spice, orange, and vanilla thats more pushed into the background. Distiller Score: 88. The bourbon is believed to be approximately 6 YO. Little did I know, this substitute would play a big role in my blind tasting. Average Price: $300. I disagree about 46. Founded in 1783 as the first commercial distillery in Kentucky, Evan Williams built his distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. But underneath its fundamentals swims a deep sea of factors additional rules and regulations, hype machines and deceptive marketing, false myths and a boom that began in 2008 and is still going strong today that make bourbon more complex than it seems. The spice gets a little peppery as a final cut if citrus arrives to help the end slowly fade out. And in Division Two we have Old Forester Signature 100 proof up against Wild Turkey 101. The brand was resurrected by Diageo in 2015 as both a NAS and a 15 YO version. This is great stuff to sip on after a big holiday meal. Admittedly, the barrel seasoning makes all the difference between . Black Label Extra-Aged is bottled at 43% ABV. Hes pictured on the bottle. Larceny and Makers Mark can be viewed as offshoot descendants of that distillery due to the connections the labels have with those original three or connections the distillers had with the principal players in that distillery. They were right. Look, I know Jack says Tennessee whiskey on the label, but theres an argument made for it being bourbon. Egg nog spices kick this sip off. Great mouth flavors. Larceny becomes grand larceny when the property taken exceeds a certain value as defined by each state. Ive been drinking bourbon for 50 years and liked your article on wheated bourbons. No, this isnt a single barrel expression. It's probably a mixture of under-valued and underrated but Larceny is excellent bourbon for close to $25. This is the exact same juice thats just aged a little less. Old Forester has been on the market continuously since 1870, which is longer than any other bourbon. Will be looking to sample some others on your list particularly the Makers Cask Strength. I realize you wrote this article a few years back, however it is still relevant. Here we go.. They find themselves waiting in line and participating in lotteries for the likes of Weller Antique, which once collected dust on the shelf. There is also a 57% ABV (114 proof) version that is priced under $30. Slightly peppery wheat next to a light fruit, vanilla, and fresh maple syrup greet you. They all use a similar mash bill, andsome reportedly even use yeast strains derived from the original Stitzel-Weller batch. Instead, it was allowed to rest until it hit a point the distillers wanted to hit and then bottled as is. Additionally, BIB whiskey must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). This bourbon was the first Single Barrel expression sold in the modern era. Makers is my flagship wheated bourbon. The finish is rich and powerful, with classic bourbon notes of sweet caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper, with a slight but persistent bitter note on the end. Hi Dave! Ive had/have 5 of the 8 limited/hard to find editions and they are not worth the effort, schmoozing, and gouging required to obtain. We relied on one of the most-esteemed bourbon experts in America, Fred Minnick. The original Stitzel-Weller mash bill was 75% corn, 20% wheat and 5% malted barley. Additionally, Four Roses uses up to five different yeast strains for its bourbons, and all are used here. Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. Proof: The percentage of alcohol, displayed as double that of the alcohol percentage. Old Forester 1920 celebrates the Distillery history since 1920 was the year . It's not lacking in sweetness, with tasting notes of nougat, figs, dates and caramel corn. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels.
5 Most Underrated Bourbons/Whiskies - Blog ABV: 50% The holy grail of bourbon brands announced its annual slate of whiskeys in October 2022, and the release includes a total of five bourbons along with a rye. Along with Old Overholt Rye, Old Grand-Dad falls under The Olds family of whiskeys released by Jim Beam. Division 1: Old Grand-Dad Bonded (Whiskey 1) vs Larceny (Whiskey 2) Pre-Reveal Thoughts: Both noses are sweet, but Whiskey 2 is showing a bit more graininess.
The 10 Best Wheated Bourbons to Drink in 2023 - Liquor.com Overpowering taste and smell of alcohol. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle.Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon: Every year for the past eight years, Texas-based distillery Garrison Brothers has released their fan-favorite Cowboy Bourbon: an uncut and unfiltered straight bourbon thats produced in limited numbers. Medley Brothers bourbon is made by the father and son team of Charles and Sam Medley. Wheat bourbons are different. On the nose, there is caramel, cooked corn sweetness and pralines (think almond roca candy), along with plenty of cinnamon and clove spice. If you love cinnamon notes, youll love this, Minnick says. This has an incredible sweetness to it, Minnick says. For our money, the best do-it-all bourbon is Knob Creek's 9-year-old Small Batch offering.
72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. The finish is long, sweet, with maple syrup and brown sugar notes. Average Price: $45. I usually find Makers Mark to be sweet. If you want craft bourbon, we love New Riff's dedication to Bottled-in-Bond whiskey-making and rich flavor profiles. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich I buy this product more than anything else on this list. For 2022, the rugged western whiskey is a blend of 8- and 9-year-old barrels from the distillery and clocks in at a whopping 134.8 proof. Wheat as the secondary grain provides a bit of a subtle, yet noticeable contrast to the traditional rye component of standard bourbons.
The Old Forester Bourbon Review | Whiskey Rocks Id certainly make a few changes here and there. Theyll tell you everything there is to know about their whiskey they dont hide the mash bill, the distillation proof. The sip leans more into the caramel apples on the end and skips the citrus yet stays warm and mellow. The whiskey inside Early Times' wicked affordable Bottled-in-Bond expression is Brown-Forman-made, though, and it has that sweet-and-smooth Basil Hayden's thing going on, just more a more solid boozy backbone with a recurring note of caramel corn throughout. Russells Reserve Bourbon, 10 YO, 45% ABV, is produced by Wild Turkey.
Rating the Wheaters - the Best Wheated Bourbons - ModernThirst The name Old Forester was allegedly chosen in honor of a doctor named Forrester, who regularly prescribed the bourbon to his patients at a time when it was still sold in pharmacies for medicinal purposes. However, the signature for which this bourbon gets its name and which is displayed on each bottle, is the founder of the brand, George Garvin Brown. Got your Mash? Sometimes even exactly the same. Really looking forward to the release of the RY 10 Single Barrel. So its whiskey, at a great proof point of 86 and an age that Minnick says is roughly five-and-a-half years old, goes for less than $20. The rest of the nation is just kinda getting to know em, Minnick says. It was very, very nice bourbon, he says, wistfully. Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. If you can get your hands on the bottle like the Dutton clan did in season 5 of Yellowstone youll be treated to notes of creamed corn, toasted vanilla and a heavy dose of wheat. With intense flavors of dark fruit, cocoa, and vanilla, this Cabernet Sauvignon offers a smooth and balanced taste with a long, lingeri. Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today! Finish: Medium length and warm. Makers Mark could double their price and people would still buy it by the case.
Larceny - Definition, Examples, Cases, and Processes So, we switched Eagle Rare to its sister brand, Buffalo Trace, which always warms up my palate in the winter. Name: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky Age: NAS Proof: 115 Proof (57.5% abv) Type: Straight bourbon whiskey Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation Website: https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1910-old-fine-whisky/ Glassware: Glencairn Review A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. Fred Minnick is a longtime American whiskey writer and author of multiple bourbon books. On the palate, you have caramel, brown sugar, candied nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cooked corn sweetness, some mint and a lingering pepperiness. There can be no doubt that a certain 3-word labelhas greatly influenced bourbon and bourbon demand over the past decade. Old Grand-Dad Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 50% ABV, was the nickname of a distiller named Basil Hayden. Drink it in a highball or mix up old fashioneds for a few months. Regular Old Forester goes into those burnt barrels for another six to nine months. Pappy Van Winkles impossible-to-find wheated bourbon has become such a hype monster that other wheated bourbons from Buffalo Traces portfolio have seen their own popularity skyrocket due to their proximity. Old Forester is the more dark, banana-y, oaky, apple-y and earthy bourbon. It's got a good amount of heat on account of being 117 proof, but you'll still be able to make out classic bourbon tasting notes like caramel, brown sugar, vanilla and oak. This is what you drink when you need a break from barrel-proof juice. Old Forester does a slightly better job filling it in comparison. And THAT I can provide some help on. Whether thats worth the money is up to you and your palate. Its also the recipe Pappy Van Winkle bought during prohibition. My personal opinion is a little different. But if they arent regularly released with a wheated mash bill as a rule, theyre one-offs, and not on the list. Don't tell your bourbon-drinking friends, but Russell's spicy-caramel-and-vanilla-tasting Reserve 10-year-old bourbon is one of the best values in the bourbon world. The finish is long, creamy smooth and sweet, with a persistent caramel and brown sugar note and a lingering note of bitterness at the end. After about 7 years, they start becoming nice sips. Lots of rye spices mingle with sweet vanilla on the palate here. This is a BETA experience. Flavor Profile: Spicy & Smoky But the truth is, in a pinch, this is a great sipper. Its just that one of them was in the right spot in the rickhouse and deemed tasty enough not to be blended with other barrels. The latter is a blend of a 16-year-old bourbon and a 15-year-old high-rye bourbon that pays tribute to the familys first distiller, Jacob Beam, and its said to be some of the best bourbon being produced at the busy distillery. Barrell is a blender, not a distiller, and the flavor mastery of founder Joe Beatrice and master distiller Tripp Stimson have won the old bourbon guard over.
Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Old Bourbon Review Fourth - Larceny With wheated bourbons riding a tidal wave named Pappy, Larceny flies under the radar. All of this isnt to say that drinking a Wild Turkey 81 is the same as drinking a Russells Reserve Single Barrel. The oak peeks in with more vanilla, notes of toffee, and a bit of berry tartness. On the flip side, expensive bourbon isnt always as refined as it seems. This one is more of a sipper. But I worried its subtleties could get lost in a deep field, which this was. Were just sayin. Average Price: $12. If you get a chance to visit Loretto, pick up a bottle of the Makers 46 Cask Strength sometime. Bourbon, the Great American Spirit, is not as simple as one might think. As the bourbon opens up, rye spice emerges along with a pronounced alcohol burn. ABV: 50% Distiller Score: 84. I believe that to be the definition of nuance. Among that plethora of lingering notes, you'll find interesting tastes like maple syrup, green peppercorn, coriander, and even a s'mores-like finish of chocolate, graham cracker and toasted marshmallow.
Best Everyday Bourbon Costs Less Than $20 - Forbes This whiskey is much better known then the expressions cited above. This is the Bottled-In-Bond version of Old Grand-Dad Bourbon, meaning it was all distilled in the same calendar year. Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. Looking for something on the cheap? If God gave birth to a bourbon child, this is what it would taste like, Minnick says. Though it shares DNA with other Heaven Hill bourbons like Evan Williams and Henry McKenna, Elijah Craig Small Batch is balanced, with extra maltiness. #4 barrel char. On the palate, there is a distinctive honey sweetness accompanied by cinnamon and nutmeg. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye . ABV: 50.5% Ninety-five percent of all of the bourbon distilled in the US is made in Kentucky. First, bourbon can only be made in America, and its grain bill must include at least 51 percent of corn. The finish is medium length, smooth, showing caramel sweetness and pralines, along with spice and some oak notes. I bought two. Neither is particularly better than the other. Its mash bill consists of corn, rye, and malted barley. It can claim to be extremely full flavored thanks to its 115 proof, and its taste profile is like a synthesis of. I dont collect, so secondary value is so worthless a determination to me that I couldnt even tell you a ballpark value of most bottles. ABV: 46% Booker's 25th (Probably gets some subconscious points from knowing it was a one-time release) Now, Top 5 that are fairly available (or sufficiently bunkered): 1. This is all about the sweetness.. Its mellow balance helped by the prominent caramel notes of its wheated mash bill doesnt overpower meaty flavors. Bourbon with an age statement and available at barrel strength for a good price? Bottled and sealed, his signature guaranteed quality. Pappy Van Winkle, in his infinite wisdom, allegedly chose wheat in his recipe because he felt is matured more quickly, and bourbon could be moved to market at a younger age.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon Thanks in advance. 2) Sazerac 18 Year Straight Rye This is going to be a controversial choice, but let's talk this through.
Cocktail Queries: 10 Great Alternatives to Hyped, Sought-After - Paste I like it. So the second way to look at it is really what this site is focused on- how it tastes. Am looking forward to trying some of the others you listed. This is an excellent mixing bourbon to have on hand. Distiller Score: 84. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. But it was not in the cards. A wheated bourbon brand contract distilled at Heaven Hill Distillery, Rebel Yell is owned by Luxco. So lets divide them into two categories: Standard Production and Limited Release. That hasnt stopped the collectors, however. The spirit is one of those rare drinks that is loved by both bourbon enthusiasts and amateurs. Type above and press Enter to search. It's our best overall bourbon not by way of life-altering tasting notes which include marmalade, honey and maple but by stuffing the stat sheet in a way no other bourbon can. I didnt find this note, however, and it failed to impress in the field. I assessed all nominations, validated them and tasted them live on YouTube to select my 2019 favorite for Best Everyday Bourbon. Flavor Profile: Vanilla & Sweet These became known as the Fitzgerald Barrels. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. On the nose, Larceny is sweet, offering fruit notes of peach and apricot along with candied citrus zest, and cinnamon. Larceny is a bourbon produced by the Heaven Hill distillery made from a mash bill that is 20 percent wheat. It didnt make the cut for the finals. This juice is. The end is rich with a note of toffee and a whisper of salted caramel. Production is limited to 8,600 bottles nationwide, and it sells for $250.Pappy Van Winkle 2022 Lineup: No list of the best bourbons is complete without a mention of Pappy Van Winkle. Theres more of sweetness at play with toffee and vanilla up top. Next time you have a blind tasting throw Larceny in to the mix and see the results. It won my American Whiskey of the Year award [in 2018] in a blind tasting, Minnick says. It is available everywhere and thus resistant to the price gouging associated with brands like Buffalo Trace. Flavor Profile: Rich & Spicy San Francisco World Spirits Competition a few years ago, The 25 Best Whiskies to Try Before You Die, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Flavor Profile: Rich & Full Bodied Cheap Bourbons With The Same Mash Bills As Expensive Expressions, GloRilla, Ice Spice, And The Carefree Black Girl Backlash, Karol G Tells Us About Her Most Personal Album Yet, Maana Ser Bonito, And Collaborating With Shakira, The Rundown: Cousin Gregs Finest Moments From The Succession Final Season Trailer, Ranked, Creed III Has What Every Sequel Needs, A Director Who Seems Personally Invested, How Bail Bag Helps The Formerly Incarcerated Get Back On Their Feet, Advice From A Finance Pro For How To Survive (And Thrive) In This Economy, Why We Shouldnt Forget About The Game Stop Short Squeeze, Five Cities Where Latinx Street Art Is Alive And Well, Travel Budgeting Pro Gabby Beckford Shares Her Best Financial Advice For 2023 Adventures, We Blind Tested Our Favorite Fast Food Double Cheeseburgers & Crowned A New Champ, How To Actually, Truly Buy Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon For Real, Were Picking The Very Best Air Jordan IIIs Of All Time, Game On: How Grant Williams Embraces His Role On And Off The Court, Jamal Crawford On Joining TNTs Tuesday Night Desk, Brooklyns Turnaround, And The NBAs Offensive Explosion, How Sneaker Customizer Marcus Floyd Is Breaking Into Pro Sports, One Horse Shoe At A Time, Talib Kweli & David Cross On Boots Riley, Bob Odenkirk, Palestine, Tribalism, NLE Choppa Takes Uproxx Behind His 23 Music Video, B-Lovees Uproxx Sessions Performance Of IYKYK May Have Been Ice Cold But Hes With All The Smoke, 112s Cupid Video Gets Some React Like You Know Love From 2Rare And TiaCorine, The Best Cheap Whiskey, According To The Masses. As it turns out, it came in my top 10. Average Price: $20. This bourbon over-delivers for its price and continues to be one of the best value picks on the market.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Bourbon But nowhere is the impact of the Pappy Van Winkle lineup more prevalent than in the trickle down effect it has had on other bourbons made with wheat as the secondary or flavoring grain. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood.. Weve already talked about how Weller and Pappy are the same wheated bourbon, so lets give Heaven Hills wheated bourbons some love. #4 barrel char.
What are your top 5 bourbons? - General Bourbon Discussion It bears no age statement and is bottled at 92 proof. And its the best cocktail bourbon out there. Four Roses is a highly regarded distillery, with a high-rye mash bill that produces an extra spiciness to go along with its fruity and floral notes, and a concentration on yeast that has been eye-opening for the bourbon world. Don't drink and drive. This was a single release of only 2,500 bottles. Relative to Kentucky, theyve been around for a few days. And the 2014 Parkers Heritage Original Batch Wheat Whiskey really showed what that mash bill is capable of with age and proof. There are a variety of Very Old Barton bourbons on the market including an 80 proof, an 86 proof and a 90 proof. If I tasted this flight again, theres a very good chance Id have different results. Its price, proof and age suggest it could be your next home bar staple. Yes. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. Corn on the nose and lots of classic notes of vanilla, toffee, and caramel up top. His son, Eddie Russell, took over as Wild Turkeys Master Distiller in 2015, after 35 years with the company. If Evan Williams were to sell this whiskey to someone else, that brand would mark it up to $40, and people would be happy buying it, Minnick says. In 1870, George Garvin Brown, founder of Old Forester, created the first bottled bourbon. As Bourbon Heritage Month rolls on, were taking a look at some expensive bottles of bourbon to see if we can find some cheaper bourbon counterparts from the exact same mash bill, barrel char, and barrel proof. Regular Four Roses (formerly called Yellow Label), Old Forester 100 Proof (formerly called Signature), Wild Turkey 101, Jim Beam Black Label, Larceny Bourbon, Maker's Mark, and Buffalo Trace. Wilderness Trail does not make subpar whiskey. Redwood Empire Bottled in Bond Rye . A leather note emerges and lingers at the end. Distillery: Old Forester (Brown-Forman) City: Louisville, KY Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey ABV: 46.5% (93 proof) Availability: Limited, 375 ml bottles, $50 MSRP Jim Vorel is a. Maker's Mark Cask . According to their story, back in the day, John E. Fitzgerald used his privilege of holding the keys to Pappy Van Winkles bonded warehouse, where the Old Fitzgerald bourbons were kept, to steal the best casks for himself. The brand has been on the shelves for over 150 consecutive years. Sazerac 18 typically demands the highest price in the Buffalo Antique Collection line.
The 30 Best Bourbons (2023) | VinePair Knob Creek 12 Year Price: ~$75 Proof: 100 Tasting Notes: Oak, vanilla, marshmallow Distillery: Jim Beam
The 23 Best Bourbons to Drink in 2023 - Gear Patrol Buffalo Trace vs Old Forester 86 Comparison .
Larceny Bourbon vs Makers Mark: Choose Wisely. Start Here! The price stops most people from ever getting to drink it and thats a shame. This is a BETA experience.
Old Forester 1910 Bourbon Review | The Whiskey Reviewer By continuing to browse our website, you agree to first-party and third-party cookies being stored on your device. Flavor Profile: Fruity Ive always found a bright nutmeg note, which can really stand out in blind tastings. Distillery: Jim Beam, Clermont, KY (Beam Suntory) Theyre also all made in the same distillery (Jim Beam). We're breaking down the varieties of rum, from sugarcane to bottle. His bourbon incorporated a large percentage of rye, giving the whiskey a spicy and powerful flavor. The marrying of the corn with the Christmas-y spices helps usher in a long, warming, and satisfying end that embraces you in a classic Kentucky hug.. Old Forester released the "Whiskey Row" line in late 2014 to celebrate the distillery's history. Simply, this is Heaven Hills famous wheated bourbon thats aged for nine years and bottled-in-bond. Over time, the Yellow Label bottle has changed with the label losing the yellow color. Unfortunately, both also have that unpleasant metallic vodka-y alcohol taste, which I don't find in other bourbons. It's a whisky I could drink any time and not get bored with and the 92 proof makes it a prime candidate for cocktails. Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. About 10 to 12 years ago, Total Wine opened a store in Clearwater Florida. All of the Weller expressions share the same mash bill. One of the best new whiskeys of recent memory, Stellum is a more affordable Barrell Bourbon. I bought this bottle for $23 at a local big box store. Wheaters are my favorites, but I like ryes too. It's a robust whiskey that pulls off the wheated softness without becoming weak and spineless. Thats nuts in todays whiskey world. Press Esc to cancel. George T Stagg (Some days I prefer it to just about anything) 5. Theres a sense of sweet yet slightly bitter tea next to rye spice and a flutter of fresh mint. For instance, in New York, property valued at over $1,000 is considered grand larceny. It's full of flavor and has a bit of an oaky kick to it that pairs well with the sweetness. At times our old standbys can be tough to findand when we do, they are triple the standard price. On the palate, there is caramel and brown sugar, along with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and charred oak. ABV: 50%
Best Bargain Bourbon Brands Under $25 | Distiller This is a side by side comparison review of the Old Forester 1920 and 1910, both are part of their Whiskey Row series. Cheap bourbon isnt always as bottom-shelf as it seems. The exact mash bill is kept a secret but word on the street is that its a fairly low-rye mash bill with 12 to 15 percent rye. All the Makers versions, and Larceny should sate your wheater crave. Unfortunately, the surging popularity of bourbon has made most any wheater over 6 years old nearly impossible to find. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich [CDATA[ You might notice there isnt a price, proof, tasting notes or distillery information listed on this pick. I am looking forward to trying Old Fitzgerald. For instance, Jim Beam, Bakers, Knob Creek, Old Crow, and Old Taylor all have the exact same mash bill (75/13/12 corn/rye/barley), barrel char (level #4), and barreling proof (125 proof). On the nose, the whiskey offers sweet caramel and candied cherries, along with a persistent oak note in the background. This is typically a cornbread-laden favorite of mine. While I think the standard version is fine, Ive had two private barrel selections that were great. But what are the best wheated bourbons out there? Sure. The bourbons range from the $70, 107-proof Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10-Year-Old to the top-shelf, 95.6-proof Pappy Van Winkles Family Reserve Bourbon 23-Year-Old, which has a suggested retail price of $300. I'd say this is a bit of a draw on the nose. Retail - $250; . The look of it was like that of a reddened maple syrup. This is a departure from the classic Jim Beam mash we mentioned in the lede. He has also been published on Liquor.com. Old Forester is one of the oldest whisky houses in America (yes, they spell whisky without the "e").
Larceny and Old Forester bourbon review - YouTube Id keep my eye out for the upcoming single barrel Rebel Yell as well as any private barrel selections you can find from Weller, or Makers Mark in particular. Foundation For Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. I W Harper was widely popular in the 1950s and 60s, and was exported to more than 100 countries around the world. No, this isnt as complex as Old Fitzgerald. This makes a wonderful sipper or gift to a friend, and since Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, you best believe this makes an excellent base to a mint julep with its myriad notes of fruit and spice. ABV: 46% Flavor Profile: Sweet & Rich Distiller Score: 88 Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. Oh, and it's sold in liters. Theres a clear sense of bourbon vanilla next to creamy corn and plenty of honey sweetness. Thats because Barrell is, at this moment, the best blender of American whiskey there is (they have the trophy case to prove it). And the little factors between bottles do matter. Nose: Honey, caramel, wintergreen, almond. Charles is a 50-year veteran of the Kentucky distilling industry and his familys history is closely intertwined with Kentucky bourbon. In 2017, Jim Beams Old Grand-Dad line of whiskeys was nearly axed. The sip leans into the toffee with a subtle dose of cinnamon spice lingering in the background with more of that honeyed corn. Once everyday, easy-to-find [+] brands are now allocated and outside of the consumer's reach.