About a year ago I was introduced to the world of bourbon. I was having dinner at my favorite steakhouse for my birthday and our server wanted to get me a bourbon for my birthday to go with my steak. I told him to pick and he brought me a Blanton’s. Talk about being introduced to the best right off the bat. That is both a blessing and a curse.
I asked where I can get a bottle of Blanton’s. He then educated me on the rare and allocated bourbons and how even restaurants struggle to get a bottle. It turned out that many good bourbons are so rare that you can’t just go down to your local liquor or grocery store and buy it. I was intrigued.
For the past year I’ve made it my mission to try and find the best bourbon. It’s been a lot of fun. Some bottles I’ve been able to buy while others I’ve only been able to get a taste (pour) at certain restaurants. That’s just how hard it is to get a bottle of certain brands. You could go online and pay thousands for a bottle if you want to.
To learn about just how popular and explosive the bourbon industry has become, I recommend two documentaries below in The Coffee Table, as well as the best big ice cube molds you can buy and my old fashioned recipe.
Before I get to the ten favorite that I’ve found, I have to mention Pappy Van Winkle. This is the gold standard in bourbon and in a league of it’s own both in taste but also in price and ability to get a bottle. Pappy Van Winkle is the best in my opinion but I have not included it in the bourbons below due to it being such an outlier. All that I’ve listed below you can find to buy and none of them run near the cost of a bottle of Pappy.
Give these a try and see what tastes and finishes they give you. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite or get reeled into the bourbon world like I did.
1) E.H. Taylor Single Barrel
The E.H. Taylor Single Barrel are aged in the famous Warehouse C, which was built by Taylor in 1881. Taylor also is known as one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry. This single barrel takes the crown over Blanton’s as my favorite bourbon.
Taste/Finish- Berries and floral greet me when I smell this. This then gives a toasted oak, whipped cream, cherry, orange, and butterscotch taste which then finishes so smooth with the butterscotch, honey, and a light oak shining through.
2) Blanton’s
Blanton’s has become one of the most famous bourbon names. The uniqueness to their bottle and the horse tops which have become collectibles highlight this legendary bourbon. Colonel Blanton is known as the pioneer in the single barrel process development.
Taste/Finish- Caramel, honey and orange shine out to me and then finishes off with a cinnamon, rich caramel and a hint of spice. The finish of Blanton’s is long and satisfying. It’s the smoothest finishing bourbon.
3) E.H. Taylor Small Batch
Another E.H. Taylor makes my list and this is the small batch version. This is a bit sweeter than the single barrel but comes in very close with taste and quality.
Taste/Finish- This starts with some apple, honey and berries. As it goes on it gets more sweet and holds those favors but then also adds a buttercream like taste. Such a nice sweetness to end. Almost like a dessert feeling.
4) Eagle Rare
Not far behind Blanton’s in popularity is Eagle Rare. I also think it comes in not too far behind in taste either. As the name suggests, this bourbon does have some rare qualities.
Taste/Finish- Buttered popcorn, honey, orange and butterscotch pudding. At the end some smoke and char comes out which really finishes off memorably.
5) Henry McKenna 10 Year
The Henry McKenna 10 Year has really taken off in popularity after winning best in show at the World Spirits Competition few years ago. Once you have it you can understand why.
Taste/Finish- Pumpkin bread, spice and vanilla come out first and then it ends with a hint of cinnamon spice.
6) Weller 12 Year
Weller has become known as one of the finest labels in bourbon. W.L. Weller was one of the first to start using wheat back in the late 1800s. The 12 year I think is the best Weller available. High quality.
Taste/Finish- Creamy almond, vanilla rich flavors. Finishes with pecan and dark fruits. But seems to change a bit with each drink. A reason why this is an exciting bourbon to drink.
7) Jefferson’s Ocean Aged At Sea
Each batch of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged At Sea has a different voyage as it’s aged in barrels on ships out to sea. The constant churning while in the barrels is done to provide distinct flavor. However they’re doing this, they have an excellent tasting bourbon.
Taste/Finish- Banana, oak, caramel, nuts and a hint of butterscotch starts. Finishes very rich in the line of cinnamon and vanilla. Very enjoyable.
8) Kentucky Owl Takumi Edition
A collaboration between Kentucky Owl and Japanese blender Yahisa came up with this Kentucky Owl named Takumi Edition. It’s a limited release and bring out some unique flavor profiles.
Taste/Finish- Dark caramel, dark fruits like blackberry or cherries and some custard. Comes across with a oaky spice to finish. Leaves a very distinct and memorable finish.
9) Buffalo Trace
To me Buffalo Trace is one of the most versatile bourbons. On its own or in an old fashioned it performs solid in all ways. That is very hard for most bourbons to do.
Taste/Finish- Vanilla, mint, brown sugar and spice. The finish has some honey and brown sugar which then develops a bit of mild burn which finishes sweet. The start is very different from the end for me. But it’s different all the way through and why I really enjoy this.
10) Blue Run Reflection 1
One of the newer and more unique bourbons I’ve come across is Blue Run Reflection 1. It’s a younger aged bourbon and as they get more aged I’m interested to see how these come out.
Taste/Finish- Long and sweet finish with almost zero burn. I sensed some toasted marshmallow along with some berries and a fruiter finish. It’s a bit lighter but very unique and good bourbon.
If you have any favorites that aren’t on this list that you think I should try, please email me at spilledcoffee@substack.com. I’m always interested in trying a good bourbon.
The Coffee Table ☕
To learn about bourbon and to understand the entire story, I highly recommend watching two documentaries, Neat and Straight Up: Kentucky Bourbon. They both have master distillers and people from all the popular brands. I learned a ton and have watched both multiple times. Neat is the more popular of the two but both go in depth with the Kentucky history where 95% of the world’s bourbon is made.
I love to use big ice cubes and these are the best one’s I’ve found. Bloxx King Cube Ice Tray These molds make 6 cubes that are 2”. The cubes are easy to take out and come out perfectly shaped. If you want more than one they also stack nicely. I’ve tried a number of different ones and have donated or given all the others away as these are the only ones I have in my freezer now.
My classic old fashioned recipe.
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 teaspoon of maple syrup
1 Luxardo Maraschino cherry
2oz of your favorite bourbon
Stir together and then add a large ice cube. Enjoy!
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