The Best Bourbons in the World
Best Bourbons! They come in so many brands and flavors, still one can never get enough of the thrill a well-aged bottle of bourbon ultimately gives.
With such a vast variety of Bourbons available for enjoyment, deciding the best one to give a delightful experience may feel like an uphill task for you.
Not to worry. In this post, we’ll do our best to give you a few bourbon must-haves in your home bar that would undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on your palate!
Where Do Bourbons Come From?
Bourbon is the name given to whiskey that has at least 51% corn as its major ingredient, with other grains like barley, rye, wheat fermented in varying proportions and aged over a long time in charred oak barrels.
Interestingly, before any whiskey can be called a “bourbon”, it must have been produced in the USA! Talk about exclusivity!
How Do You Know A Good Bourbon?
With dozens of different bourbon brands to choose from, picking a favorite ultimately comes down to several factors, including ingredient type, method of fermentation, climate, differing tastes, and preferences.
A good bourbon has aged at least 7 years – enough time to create its distinct color and taste – and is perfectly balanced in terms of texture, smoothness, and flavor.
Without much ado and in no particular order, here are some of our favorite Bourbons of all time.
- Four Roses
From the “single barrel” to the milestone-worthy “Al Young” edition, Four Roses delivers a balanced mix of spicy sweetness flavored with fruity notes, and a distinctive sprinkle of mint on the finish. What’s more? It is affordably priced at less than $50!
- Widow Jane
This whiskey, imbued with nutmeg, vanilla, and cinnamon notes with a tang of almond and citrus flavors, is a bourbon especially suited for sipping. Although pricey – about $230 – its rich aroma and flavor are definitely worth it.
- Maker’s Mark
A mixologist’s delight, Maker’s Mark, is a delicious bourbon that can stand on its own or as part of some whiskey cocktail mixes. We might attribute its unique sweetness to the distillers’ preference of wheat to rye as a flavoring grain and is sure to leave a pleasant mark where it most counts – on your taste buds.
- Michter’s
Gracefully aged at 17 to 20 years, Michter’s is undoubtedly the poster child in every sense of the word for matured Bourbons. With a delightful mix of flavors including notes of honeysuckle, pecan, and black cherry flavors, Michter’s matured brew leaves a long-lasting impression on the palate, long after the bottle is done and dusted with!
- Pappy Van Winkle
With prices ranging from $12,000 upwards, the Pappy Van Winkle is one of – if not the – most expensive bourbon to date. It belongs to the class of wheated Bourbons – whiskeys with wheat as the second-highest ingredient-by-proportion in the mash after corn – and delivers a surprisingly smooth and smooth flavor that is pleasantly at odds with its long years of aging.
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