We list them all in our Blantons bottle price list. This is the OG of the collection, created by legendary master distiller Booker Noe at a time when such high proof bourbon wasnt really what anyone was looking for. . The Extra Black is an elegant Bourbon with a heavy caramel flavor and a strong nose of oak, cinnamon, and vanilla. Woodford Reserve is also known for its participation in the annual Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a tour of some of the most famous bourbon distilleries in the state. This process removes the bitter tannins, allowing for a smoother flavor once the mixture has been added. But as sipper they are both solid options. Old Forester 1910 vs Woodford Reserve Double Oaked . 80 proof. Knob Creek Limited Edition 2001 was offered in five batches, each with robust oak and char notes balanced by sweet vanilla and warm brown spices. . The fermented wash is transferred to their 20 foot tall Vendome column still and then slowly heated. For a lighter pairing, try a creamy milk chocolate. The nose is mainly sweet with hints of vanilla, cherry and oak. Made with locally sourced corn at the Tuthilltown Spirits distillery in the Hudson Valley, the whiskey is aged in charred new American oak barrels, which imparts a strong, smoky wood quality. Won the Gold Medal at the 2012 San Francisco World Spirits . Check our ranking of the best bourbons of the year to discover the entire list. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Review - The Whiskey Jug Generally, the bourbon is about six to eight years old, with the spice from Four Roses high rye mash bill nicely complementing the fruity notes from the yeast. This differs between distillers and many distillers stick to one specific ratio to produce their offerings. Knob Creek 9 Year Old: Best bourbon under $50. Consider further options by reading my post with alternatives to Woodford Reserve. The distillery was founded in 1812 by Elijah Pepper, who started distilling corn into whiskey in 1797. The Single Barrel is an excellent whiskey too, but for something tasty and more moderately priced check out Four Roses Small Batch. Four Roses is the obvious choice for me. A delicious blend of 20 different casks of eight-year-old whiskey that offers multifarious flavors highlighted by maple syrup, coconut, cloves, and dark fruit. In the early 1800s, Woodford County Distillery owner Oscar Pepper and master distiller James Crow pioneered key bourbon-making processes such as sour mashing, copper pot distillation, and charred oak cask maturation. Earned gold and double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Their 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon was crowned the Best Single Barrel Bourbon, 11 years and older at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and is worthy of inclusion here. Four Roses vs. Woodford Reserve - YouTube A spirit distilled for a shorter period of time is known as white dog and has a paler, almost clear coloring and a sharp flavor. Its almost impossible to go wrong with anything Pappy Van Winkle, so if its proving tricky to get your hands on the 23 Year release, the 15 Year and 20 Year are also top contenders. Theres the Bottled in Bond version, which brings the ABV up to 50%, 1783 which has the nebulous small batch designation but is bottled at 90 proof, and lastly the slept-on Evan Williams Single Barrel. . Excellenteveryday bourbon, smooth and clean, good both neat and when served rocks or in a Mint Julep as if you were in Churchill Downs watching the Kentucky Derby. Prices are approximate and stated in USD: My name is J Highland and I am a bar and liquor shop owner, as well as a Mezcal distiller based in Oaxaca, Mexico. If they like yellow label, they should love the single barrel. Wild Turkey generally bottles liquid aged for at least six years, and the barrels are given the more intense No. It was served in some of the most prestigious restaurants, bars, and hotels in the United States, and it was the official whiskey of the United States military. As the name suggests, Woodford Reserve distills its Bourbon in Woodford County, Kentucky, in small batches for optimal taste. But as you grow accustomed it becomes sweeter, showing rich fruity notes, along vanilla and honey making itentirely pleasing. In 1941, the Brown-Forman Corporation purchased the distillery from the Pepper family and renamed it the Woodford Reserve Distillery. The huge variety of brands, distilleries, proofs, and ages has made the world of whiskey a fascinating one, albeit slightly challenging if youre not sure where to start. Last years FAE-02 was finished with double heat-treated French oak staves. Unlike other spirits, a company cant just call their liquor Bourbon unless it fulfills every one of the requirements. Single barrel is just a tasty sipper overall. Best Non-Bourbon Tour: Copper & Kings American Brandy. Try it with a traditional Old Fashioned or branch out with a Bourbon Sour or Manhattan for a sensational drink. Read our earnings disclaimer to learn more. Buffalo Trace vs Jim Beam: Buffalo Trace wins with 86% of the votes. There are a lot of expensive, difficult to find bottles of bourbon that come out of the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Arguably, the most crucial step of the Bourbon production process comes next: aging. It features powerful vanilla notes combined with hints of honey and a nose of spices and nutmeg. Four Roses is owned by the Kirin Brewery Company of Japan. The standard barrel size is 263 liters and weighs 225 kilos when full. Fortunately, the core eponymous expression from Buffalo Trace is a solid workhorse bourbon that plays well with other ingredients in a cocktail and is solid enough to drink on its own. To top our ranking of the best bourbons of the year, we picked Four Roses Single Barrel bottle. Some of this is actually helpful in understanding what's out there, while a lot winds up being useless bourbon bloviating. Weller Special Reserve vs. Maker's Mark vs. Old Fitzgerald. Elijah Peppers son Oscar took over the distillery in 1835 and assigned Dr. James C. Crow, a Scottish scientist, as head distiller.