The Best Bourbons of 2023 to Drink Neat, as a Highball, or in an Old Fashioned

There have never been more great bourbon options in bars and liquor stores. But America's whiskey boom that put bourbons on every corner of the map only came around over the last decade or so. In fact, “the most highly sought-after whiskey is only around 20 years old in its inception,” says Bill Thomas, owner of Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C. Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection first arrived in 2000 and Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon came out two years later in 2002.

Whiskey has “grown tremendously since the old days,” adds Thomas. “When I got into it, there were only the big 10 heritage distilleries, pretty much in Kentucky.” It was either Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey, Four Roses, Barton, Heaven Hill, or Maker's Mark, he says. Willett was still an independent bottler without stills, and Julian Van Winkle worked out of Hoffman Commonwealth Distillery as an independent bottler.

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Back in 2006, there were only 75 distilleries across the entire United States. Today, there are over 2,230, and 752 of them make whiskey. Things have changed quickly, and finding good bourbon has actually gotten harder. But with my own experience with hundreds of bourbons, plus an assist by two spirits experts, we narrowed it down to our best overall bourbon of 2023, William Larue Weller Bourbon. It's uncut, unfiltered, and hand-bottled at barrel proof for a well-composed smooth, sweet finish.

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Why You Should Trust Me

I’ve written about wine and spirits for over a decade. My work has appeared in Men’s Journal, Wine Enthusiast, InsideHook, Spirited, Liquor.com, and Travel & Leisure. I have tried nearly every bourbon on this list—my liquor cabinet has grown big enough to literally have its own storage unit—and ones I haven’t sipped were recommended by other bourbon experts.

In order to build this list, I spoke with two experts who have tasted thousands of different bottles of bourbon over the course of their careers and own bourbon bars of their own: Peter Nolan, owner of Permission Whiskey & Service Co. in Houston, Texas, and Bill Thomas, owner of Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C., which houses over 2,500 different bottles of whiskey.

“Being a Kentuckian, I love bourbon made in a classic style, no skimping on the quality, the aging,” says Nolan. “I like whiskey with a backbone. Not only the market, but the true style of bourbon has been diluted recently.”

That sentiment is shared by Thomas, whose experience stretches back decades. Overall, a lot of whiskeys we ended up choosing came from those famed distilleries—the ones you hear collectors talking about. But many also were chosen based on value and versatility.

What We Look for When Choosing the Best Bourbon

When looking for a great bourbon, Nolan starts at “the source of the grain, but also the lineage of the distillery family—what else they’ve made that [he] may know about.” Still, even he can be stirred by appearances. “Also, I can’t help but be a little bit of a bottle hoe,” he says. “I like the labels.”

Bill Thomas also looks first at the producer to find a great whiskey, “Our big line at Jack Rose is 'Trust the producer,'” he tells me.

Great bourbon—in many cases—has good genes. There are a few newer bourbons, however, that continue to prove that great whiskey can come from anywhere.

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Best Overall Bourbon: William Larue Weller

“William Larue Weller might be the bottle that I get buried with, and, hopefully, I emptied that bottle,” says Nolan. One of the holy grails of American whiskey, a bottle of this stuff doesn’t come cheap—we’re talking close to $2,000. Still, even those lucky enough to try thousands of different whiskeys hold it in the highest regard. Weller substitutes wheat for the traditional rye grain, a production method pioneered by W.L. Weller. It is uncut, unfiltered, and hand-bottled at barrel proof.

On the nose, William Larue Weller offers aromas of caramel corn, new leather, plums, light toffee, and pipe tobacco. The palate delivers marshmallow, salted almonds, nougat, figs, and dates, leading to a well-composed smooth, sweet finish.

Best Bourbon Under $50: Breckenridge Bourbon

Made from yellow corn, green rye, malted barley and aged for a minimum of three years, Breckenridge Bourbon can be enjoyed in just about any cocktail as well as neat or on the rocks. What makes the award-winning whiskey unique is that it’s made with snowmelt water from the Rocky Mountains.

The liquid is a deep, honey amber and offers aromas of butterscotch, candied orange and apple. The palate delivers dark chocolate and brown sugar, alongside notes of vanilla and white pepper.

Best Bourbon Under $100: Rowan’s Creek

Coming from the always reliable Willett Distillery, Rowan’s Creek is the first bottle to come to mind when Thomas thinks about his favorites under $100. This bottle comes in at just under $56, making it a real winner when looking for a show stealing American whiskey that doesn’t break the bank. Sporting an ABV of just over 50 percent, it is made from a blend of four mash bills: 72 percent corn, 17 percent rye, 15 percent malted barley; 79 percent corn 7 percent rye, and 15 percent malted barley; 52 percent corn, 38 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley; and 65 percent corn, 20 percent wheat, and 15 percent malted barley.

The nose delivers layers of caramel and vanilla on top of herbs and floral notes. The palate begins oily, but finishes dry and offers sweet caramel and vanilla flavors along with some more floral notes. The finish finds oak and a lingering spiciness and it pairs well with smoked meats and salty snacks.

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Best Value Bourbon: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond

When it comes to value, there’s nothing quite like Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, “I sell the shit out of it,” says Thomas. “I love selling it. I love looking at people and going, ‘this bottle is under 20 bucks.’ At under 20 bucks, if you wanna sip it, if you want to throw in a rock, it'll hold up,” he says. “If you want to put it in a cocktail, put it in an old fashioned, put it in a sazerac, rock it out. I mean, that's just a great value.”

Bottled at 100 proof, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond can do just about anything. It offers aromas of caramel, vanilla, oak, and barley. The palate delivers layers of citrus, vanilla, and black pepper. The finish is warm, long, and dry.

Best Splurge Bourbon: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel

“I have always loved Elmer T. Lee as a great bourbon to hide out in my home bar,” says Nolan. “Something about the story of Elmer, the legacy, and some of the crazy stories we’ve experienced ourselves while drinking it.” Made from the slightly higher-rye mash No. 2, which is also used for Rock Hill Farms, Blanton’s, Hancock’s Reserve, and Ancient Age, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel isn’t easy to find in the U.S., so spotting a bottle, or even a pour, is a treat, and definitely worth the splurge—it’ll cost you around $300 for a bottle.

On the nose, it offers notes of clove, vanilla, and old leather. The palate delivers fruit, honey, and vanilla alongside a touch of spiciness. The finish is long and warm.

Best Bourbon For Cocktails: Maker’s Mark 46

“At Permission Whiskey & Service Co, our go-to is Maker’s 46,” says Nolan. “That’s our house oldie.” We’re also huge fans of this classic whiskey, which is versatile enough to make just about any cocktail. Maker's Mark 46 still uses the same recipe as it did when it was created by Bill Samuels Jr., back in 1958. The whiskey is aged for approximately six years with special seared French oak staves. It's a balanced whiskey offering toasty aromas of French oak, caramel, and banking spice. The slightly sweet palate delivers layers of rich vanilla and baking spices.

It’s that blend of slightly sweet and rich flavors that makes Maker’s versatile enough to be used in most cocktails. The complexity and balance provides an additional depth that stands up without overwhelming.

Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned: Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof

As Men’s Journal notes in its “Best Bourbons for an Old Fashioned” article, Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof is the place to go when building an old fashioned. Orange zest, cinnamon, and burnt sugar are the signature tasting notes of Old Grand-Dad 114 Proof. A few drops of water and muddled sugar help dial down the heat to form a cocktail as accessible as it is memorable. “A high-proof bruiser can be great in an old fashioned,” says Aaron Goldfarb, author of Dusty Booze: In Search of Vintage Spirits . “OGD 114 fits the bill nicely," as its rounded edges are enhanced by the addition of sugar, yet it’s sturdy enough to shine through the center of the preparation with big, bold cinnamon and spice notes. "It's an economical pour to boot."

More Bourbons We Love

Bourbon vs. Whiskey

Like squares and rectangles, all bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. But what makes bourbon, bourbon? It comes down to five factors:

• First off, it must be made in America. However, it doesn’t need to be made in Kentucky, yet 95 percent of it is.

• Second, bourbon must be made with at least 51 percent corn. After that, mash bill recipes can feature rye or wheat or malted barley, or even more corn. Other whiskeys, like single malt Scotch—which comes from 100-percent malted barley—can be made from other mash bills.

• Third, it must be aged for a minimum of two years in new charred oak barrels. Other whiskeys can be aged in a variety of different types of casks, from sherry to port to red wine and beyond.

• Fourth, the whiskey cannot enter the barrel at higher than 125 proof (62.5 percent ABV), and cannot be bottled at less than 80 proof (40 percent ABV).

• Finally, nothing but water can be added to bourbon, and even then it can only be used to lessen the proof when necessary. Some other whiskeys add color and flavor to their final product.

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