The fantastic thing about American whiskey is that it doesn’t need to value an excessive amount of to be genuinely pleasing. That’s very true of bourbon. The corn-based spirit is made in large portions by big distilleries that may make it low cost and nicely. That interprets to excellent bourbon hitting the shelf at very low costs — sure, even beneath $30.
Beneath, I’m calling out 12 bourbons that you’ll find, that style nice, and are all beneath $30. It’s a real candy spot and a fantastic place to begin a bourbon journey and/or just inventory your own home bar with high quality low cost juice that’ll please just about everybody who loves whiskey. These are all wins, people.
I did rank these whiskeys. Look, they’re all good however some do supply that little bit extra somethin’ somethin’ that assist them stand out a tad extra. So learn by way of my tasting notes and discover that bourbon that grabs you. Then hit these value hyperlinks after which take pleasure in!
A fast be aware on value. These costs are set in response to Complete Wine in Louisville, Kentucky. Native costs could range. Let’s dive in.
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12. Outdated Bardstown Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond
ABV: 50%
Common Value: $21
The Whiskey:
It is a customary bourbon from Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, in any other case often known as Willett. This blended batch of bourbon is all concerning the small degree of proofing to convey it right down to bonded degree (100 proof). That lack of water lets these barrels shine a contact extra.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: This opens with a pleasant mixture of woody vanilla subsequent to cherry laborious candies that mellow in direction of cherry cotton sweet lace with echoes of oak and toffee within the background.
Palate: The palate leans into the cherry however layers in wintry spices with vanilla sugar cookies and caramel apples straight from the fairgrounds.
End: The end isn’t lengthy however doesn’t disappear both, as that cherry and spice merge into cherry cough drops.
Backside Line:
Willett has a rabid fan base. That is the place all of it begins. That is completely good mixing bourbon for cocktails. It has sufficient ABVs to face out and can ship a traditional Kentucky bourbon vibe to any cocktail.
11. Outdated Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 100 Proof
ABV: 50%
Common Value: $22
The Whisky:
Outdated Forester bourbons are stone-cold classics. Their 100-proof expression is made in the identical method as their 86-proof (72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley and aged in Louisville, Kentucky). The important thing distinction is that after these barrels are blended, they’re barely touched with water, conserving the proof very hearty.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Oak and caramel draw you in on the nostril with a pleasant dose of cherry sweet and a touch of espresso bitterness.
Palate: The palate wallows in vanilla as a spicy apple pie with a vanilla-flecked, buttery crust drives the style earlier than the cherry comes again in full power with a touch of brandy oak spice.
End: The oak, cherry, and spice powers the pour with a medium-length fade and loads of bourbon heat.
Backside Line:
That is one other nice whiskey-forward cocktail candidate. It’ll imbue all these traditional candy and cherry bourbon notes that you really want in a easy quaint or bourbon bitter.
10. Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $23
The Whiskey:
This whiskey embraces a high-rye mash invoice that’s comprised of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. The new juice is then rested for six years earlier than mixing, reducing right down to proof, and barreling.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril is traditional Kentucky bourbon with clear darkish cherry tobacco, apple cider doughnuts, loads of cinnamon, eggnog creaminess, and a bit rye grassiness (suppose dry sweetgrass).
Palate: The spice on the palate is squarely within the cinnamon class with creamy vanilla, extra heat fruity tobacco, and a touch of orchard bark lurking within the background.
End: The top is heat however fades fairly shortly, leaving you with mushy oak, darkish spice, brown sugar, and a whisper of candy and creamy grits.
Backside Line:
That is nearly a no brainer purchase. You need to have this bottle readily available just by advantage of it being so well-known. Anyone cruising by your home will understand it probably prefer it. Furthermore, this whiskey makes actually good cocktails whereas working completely advantageous as an on-the-rates pour or shooter.
9. 1792 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
ABV: 46.85%
Common Value: $27
The Whiskey:
This whiskey from Barton 1792 Distillery is a no-age-statement launch made in “small batches.” The mash is unknown, however Sazerac mentions that it’s a “excessive rye” mash invoice, which may imply something. The whiskey is batched from choose barrels after which proofed down and bottled as-is.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril opens with a woody cherry bark subsequent to bitter apple pies, distiller’s beer, and caramel candies subsequent to vanilla cream with a counterpoint of cumin and dry chili lurking within the deeper reaches of the nostril.
Palate: The palate opens with a Cherry Coke really feel subsequent to wealthy and buttery toffee, vanilla malts, and sharp Scorching Tamales cinnamon sweet with a nod towards allspice and root beer.
End: The top is mushy and plush with vanilla smoothness resulting in black cherry tobacco braided with cedar bark and wicker.
Backside Line:
That is one other whiskey that makes a hell of a cocktail (and it’s constructed particularly to take action). I might lean extra citrus-forward with this one — so suppose sours, smashes, and the like. The malty vanilla and cherry shine by way of properly with lemon and sugar.
8. Weller Particular Launch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $25
The Whiskey:
It is a traditional wheated bourbon from Buffalo Hint, which doesn’t publish any of its mash payments. Educated guesses put the wheat proportion of those mash payments at round 16 to 18%, which is fairly common. The age of the barrels on this mix can be unknown.
General, we all know it is a traditional wheated bourbon, and … that’s about it.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: There’s a tannic sense of previous oak subsequent to candy cherries, vanilla cookies, and that Buffalo Hint leathery vibe with a touch of spiced tobacco lurking beneath.
Palate: The palate has a creamy texture form of like malted vanilla ice cream over a scorching apple pie reduce with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and walnuts subsequent to Frosted Raisin Bran with a touch of candied cherry root beer.
End: The top takes that candy cherry and apple and layers it into a light-weight tobacco leaf with a gentle sense of previous musty barrel warehouses.
Backside Line:
That is one other one which’s a no brainer. Each whiskey lover will know “Weller” in a method or one other. That is their mixer expression although, so deal with it accordingly. I have a tendency to make use of this extra for sours and smashes too and save the Vintage 107 Weller for whiskey-forward cocktails.
7. Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 49.5%
Common Value: $24
The Whiskey:
This whiskey — distilled at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown — is form of like a Tennessee whiskey made in Kentucky. The whiskey has a typical mash invoice of corn, rye, and barley. The juice is then aged however earlier than it goes into the bottles it’s charcoal filtered. That whiskey is then batched, proofed down with limestone water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: This leans very traditional bourbon with hints of corn on the cob with melty salted butter subsequent to hints of sentimental leather-based pouches stuffed with roasted peanut shells, a contact of caramel, and a vanilla/chocolate ice cream vibe.
Palate: The palate retains issues tremendous simple as that wealthy vanilla ice cream leads in direction of vacation spices, tart inexperienced apples, and a freshly baked cornbread bespeckled with dried chili flakes and black pepper.
End: The end is mushy and quick with that spice main again in direction of a leather-based tobacco chew.
Backside Line:
That is mushy and really nutty/creamy bourbon. It really works rather well in cocktails the place a touch of nuttiness works — consider Manhattans, creamy nogs, and even boulevardiers. I might additionally argue that that is good sufficient to pour over some rocks for on a regular basis sipping.
6. Outdated Grand-Dad 114 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 57%
Common Value: $24
The Whiskey:
Hailing from the James B. Beam stills and warehouses, this “Outdated” whiskey is a fan favourite. The whiskey is from Beam’s excessive rye mash invoice. The new juice is then matured till it’s good. The barrels are blended, the whiskey is simply touched with water to convey the proof down, and it’s bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Vanilla tobacco meets hints of rye spiciness with a dose of caramel and previous oak on the nostril.
Palate: The palate holds onto that rye spice as notes of cherry and oak dominate the vanilla and toffee sweetness.
End: The top returns to the spice with a chewy tobacco edge that lingers for a short while however leaves you wanting extra.
Backside Line:
It is a nice “desk” whiskey. That implies that it really works for on a regular basis sipping (over some rocks), good mixing, or simply chilling with a beer. It’s not going to blow you away however it can get the job carried out once you’re on the lookout for a traditional Kentucky pour.
5. Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $24
The Whisky:
That is Maker’s signature expression made with Pink winter wheat and aged seasoned Ozark oak for six to seven years. This expression’s whiskey is then sourced from solely 150 barrels (making this a “small batch”). These barrels are then blended and proofed with Kentucky limestone water earlier than bottling and dipping of their iconic pink wax.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril is stuffed with these closely charred oak barrel notes subsequent to traditional hints of caramel and vanilla with a grassy underbelly.
Palate: That grassiness turns into vaguely floral as barely spiced caramel apples arrive, together with a chewy mouthfeel that leads in direction of a mushy mineral vibe — form of like moist granite.
End: The top holds onto the fruit and sweetness because the oak and dried grass keep in your senses.
Backside Line:
It is a nice customary whisky to have readily available. It’s clear and mushy with a pleasant nuance to it (because of the pink winter wheat as an alternative of rye within the mash invoice). General, that is the whisky you need to use for Manhattans and Sazeracs because of that good chew of dry grassiness that powers by way of the opposite cocktail substances whereas working nicely with them.
4. Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $25
The Whiskey:
That is Elijah Craig’s entry-point bottle. The mash is corn-focused, with extra malted barley than rye. The whiskey is then rendered from “small batches” of barrels to create this proofed-down model of the enduring model.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: There’s a light-weight sense of rickhouse wooden beams subsequent to that gentle taco seasoning on the nostril with caramel apples, vanilla ice cream scoops, and a touch of recent mint with a candy/spicy edge.
Palate: The palate opens with a significantly clean vanilla base with some winter spice (particularly cinnamon and allspice) subsequent to a touch of grain and apple pie filling.
End: The top leans in direction of the woodiness with a touch of broom bristle and minty tobacco lead undercut by that clean vanilla.
Backside Line:
That is a necessary Kentucky bourbon and home pour. It’s as versatile in a glass on the rocks as it’s in a cocktail. Have enjoyable with this one.
3. Buffalo Hint Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $28
The Whiskey:
That is the whiskey that heralded a brand new period of bourbon in 1999. Famed Grasp Distiller Elmer T. Lee got here out of retirement to create this bourbon to have fun the renaming of the George T. Stagg distillery to Buffalo Hint when Sazerac purchased the joint. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past, particularly since this has grow to be a touchstone bourbon for the model.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Traditional notes of vanilla come by way of subsequent to a darkish syrup sweetness, a flourish of recent mint, and uncooked leather-based that veers in direction of uncooked steak.
Palate: The palate cuts by way of the sweeter notes with loads of spices — like clove and star anise — subsequent to a touch of tart berries beneath all of it.
End: The top is lengthy, velvety, and actually delivers on the vanilla and spice.
Backside Line:
It is a straight-up fashionable traditional. It’s easygoing however delivers on the hype round Buffalo Hint typically. I’d use this for easy but scrumptious whiskey-forward cocktails however would by no means flip down a pour over some ice both. It’s vendor’s selection, actually.
2. 4 Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $28
The Whiskey:
4 Roses Small Batch Bourbon is a mix of 4 whiskeys. The mix is cut up evenly between the excessive and low-rye bourbons with a concentrate on “slight spice” and “wealthy fruit” yeasts — which means OBSK, OESK, OBSO, and OESO are within the combine (right here’s what all of which means). After six to seven years of getting old, the whiskey is mixed, reduce with mushy Kentucky water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: Smooth and candy apple and cherry woods greet with a superb dose of bitter pink berries dusted with brown winter spices, particularly clove and nutmeg.
Palate: The palate leans into mushy and salted caramel with a touch of these berries beneath whereas the spices get woodier and a skinny line of inexperienced sweetgrass sneaks in.
End: The end is silky and boils right down to blackberry jam with a superb dose of winter spice, previous wooden, and a touch of vanilla tobacco.
Backside Line:
It is a sturdy whiskey that would simply be primary on this record. It’s excellent, dynamic, and gettable in every single place. It additionally makes a killer fruity-forward cocktail. On the similar time, you possibly can simply sip this slowly over an enormous ol’ rock.
1. Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 54%
Common Value: $20
The Whiskey:
Every of those Jim Beam bottlings is pulled from single barrels that hit simply the proper spot of style, texture, and drinkability, in response to the grasp distillers at Beam. Meaning this juice is pulled from lower than one % of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a really particular bottle at a bafflingly inexpensive value.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril opens with traditional notes of vanilla sheet cake, salted caramel, wintry mulled wine spices, and a way of cherry pie in a lard crust subsequent to a touch of dried corn husk, previous broom bristle, and darkish chocolate pipe tobacco.
Palate: The palate layers in floral honey and orange zest subsequent to sticky toffee pudding, previous leather-based, and cherry tobacco layered with the darkish chocolate with this lingering sense of coconut cream pie lurking someplace within the background.
End: The end leans into extra woody winter spices (particularly cinnamon bark and nutmeg) with wealthy toffee and cherry-chocolate tobacco braided with dry sweetgrass and cedar bark.
Backside Line:
That is the only option on this value bracket. You merely can not beat this whiskey at this value. It’s deep and nuanced with a fantastic drinkability that works wonders in whiskey-forward cocktails or over an enormous piece of ice. Hell, you possibly can shoot this one too if that’s your jam — however you’ll miss numerous the main points that make this one nice.
