For Your Top Shelf: Bourbons to Try in 2023.
Deeply ingrained in the spirit of the South is bourbon. Childhood memories are ripe with the aromas of whiskey-soaked and bourbon-laced delicacies and treats. Our mamas loved to cook, bake, and drench their age-old family dishes in this amber juice. Our daddies savored and swirled theirs post-dinner in deep reflection, or savored a good bottle with even finer company.
Bourbon is a gift that invites camaraderie and connection. Notice: you sip it slowly while you hang out with friends or by yourself while contemplating the day. Quality bourbon is not meant to drink quickly or something to be hurried over. You want to take your time with this fine pour.
It comes by many nicknames and surprisingly more delicate or robust flavors to the more schooled palate. And according to the writer, Roy Blount, Jr., it’s the classic drink of choice steeped in Western history:
“Let’s face it, it’s what they drink in cowboy movies. You don’t see white hats or black hats tossing back shots of vodka or rum or taking a bottle of Pinot Grigio to the table.”
— ROY BLOUNT, JR.
Whether you’re a novice to bourbon tasting or you have a more refined taste and are looking for your next bottle to keep back for your own personal stash, read on for our best bourbon recommendations.
Weller Special Reserve
Weller Special Reserve has become somewhat of a unicorn because it is rare to procure. If you happen to see a bottle, snatch it up quickly because this is definitely one for your top-shelf list. Tasters enjoy its simplicity of use — it’s delightful in mixers, on the rocks, or fine enough to stand alone.
Region: Kentucky
TASTERS SAY: “Very sweet with a hint of oaky spice. Not very complex, but very easy to sip. If you can find it at or near MSRP, it’s fantastic.”
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Aged whiskey fetches a higher price with its mellowed and well-balanced flavors. All bourbon is basically matured in a charred new oak barrel, but this particular bourbon is then finished in a second barrel that’s been deeply toasted and charred as well. Hence, the name, “double oak.” And the result? This particular bourbon has gained somewhat of a cult-like following due to its sweeter vanilla and butterscotch notes paired with charred oak brought out by the double oak finish. It’s also said to be incredibly smooth, making for a pleasantly warm, but not harsh, whiskey hug. You can find this around the $50-60 mark, making it a decently-priced bourbon.
Region: Kentucky
TASTERS SAY: “This is the only bourbon we buy now. Definitely smooth and easy going down!”
Four Roses Single Barrel
Just because it’s a single-barrel bourbon, there’s no need to go judging. Shockingly smooth, this good-quality bourbon at a fair price point has challenged even pricier options at a taste test and come out on top. Four Roses Single Barrel has won numerous awards over the years, but we think you should pick up a bottle and let your palate judge for itself.
Region: Kentucky
TASTERS SAY: “Not as dramatic to hunt as the unicorns, but surprisingly my go-to in my home bar. Enjoyed neat, or as a hell of an Old Fashioned.”
Ghostwood Blended Bourbon Whiskey
There’s a story at the end of every bottle … and some of those tales get taller as the night goes on. And that’s the beauty of Ghostwood. Its founder intended this bourbon to be the kind that’s savored around a slow-burning fire with good company long into the night. We want to grab this bottle for two reasons: how cool will it look in our collection and how scary awesome is that name?! But seriously, we know that it’s what’s inside the bottle that really counts. Fans enjoy how the initial taste of spice transforms into a very subtle and surprisingly dry finish that lingers nicely in the mouth. Ghostwood Distillery is the only bourbon on our list that hails from Montana, but don’t be afraid to try this Northern craft gem. We’re sipping on it proudly until every last drop.
Region: Montana
TASTERS SAY: “Ice it up or drink it neat. There’s no wrong way to enjoy this craft blend.”
Blade & Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon
A legendary still and an epic name combine to produce some pretty tasty bourbon. Blade and Bow is named after a key’s constituent parts. You’re probably wondering why. Well, on the famous Stitzel Weller Distillery’s front door, five mounted keys represented the five tenets of fine bourbon making: grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and aging. Before being forced to close its doors, Stitzel Weller produced some of the best bourbon in the world (including Pappy Van Winkle). This particular bourbon preserves some of that distillery’s oldest stocks and mingles it with other fine whiskies. The result? A spirit that aficionados keep coming back for.
Region: Kentucky
TASTERS SAY: “My fancier go-to. I’d say it tastes a little smoother than the Four Roses.”
Milam & Greene Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Since we call the Lone Star State home, we had to include this Texas-bred bourbon. Its distillery kicked off in the heart of the Texas Hill Country and the rest is whiskey history. These whisky experts age and batch vintage whiskies from various states with their own distillate to create unique and tasty flavors. This particular bottle—Milam & Greene Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey is their premium Texas Bourbon.
Region: Texas
TASTERS SAY: “I had high expectations and it delivered. Really nice blend of bourbons.”
TX Whiskey
Just like the Brumbaugh’s family, this bourbon is born and bred right here in Fort Worth, Texas. Embodying the wild Texas spirit through and through, all ingredients in this sipping whiskey are uniquely sourced from Texas which creates a novel experience in a market of Kentucky-mades. An interesting fact we enjoyed: in true Texas fashion, each wooden stopper is branded and topped off with a disk of hand-tooled boot leather. Pick up a bottle today and gift to your bourbon-mingling friends or fam for a little piece of the Wild West.
Region: Texas
TASTERS SAY: “Hometown fave. Hints of pecan, leather, and sweet swirl together and are savored to the end.”
Other Good Bourbons to Try
If you can’t find any of the ones we reviewed, here is a collection of others to source that will be sure to please the most discriminating of palates:
- Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon, 10-Year, Bottled-in-Bond
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Bourbon
- Michter’s US1 Sour Mash Whiskey
- Knob Creek Single Barrel
- Eagle Rare 10 Year
Stock Your Fave Bourbons in a Brumbaugh’s Home Bar Worthy of the Best
Once you’ve decided on a bourbon (or two or three) to add to your personal cabinet, why not upgrade your sipping experience to a swanky new home bar? From decanters to barstools and everything in between, Brumbaugh’s can outfit your at-home bar with style. Visit the Brumbaugh’s showroom in West Fort Worth or online to have a designer create the perfect look for your home.
