Bourbon has been produced in the United States since the early 1800s.

It is believed to have been developed by settlers in what is now Kentucky, who used corn and other grains to make whiskey.

The name “bourbon” was derived from the French phrase “bourbon county”, which referred to the area where it was first produced.

Best Brands of Bourbon

Now that we’ve discussed some important factors to consider when choosing a bourbon let’s take a look at some of the best brands available today:

Maker’s Mark

Maker's Mark is a wheated bourbon made with a mash bill of 70 percent corn, 16 percent wheat, and 14 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least six years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of vanilla and caramel.

Woodford Reserve

Woodford Reserve is a high rye bourbon made with a mash bill of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least six years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of caramel and spice.

Basil Hayden’s

Basil Hayden’s is a small batch bourbon made with a mash bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent rye, 8 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least seven years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of peppermint and spice.

Widow Jane

Widow Jane is an American whiskey made with a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 15 percent wheat, 10 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least five years in port wine barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of vanilla and brown sugar.

Barrell Craft Spirits

Barrell Craft Spirits produces several different types of bourbon including their flagship product Barrell Craft Spirits Small Batch Bourbon which is made with a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 15 percent wheat, 10 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least six years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of caramel and spice.

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel

Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel is an American whiskey made with a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent rye, 4 percent malted barley.

It is aged for at least seven years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of caramelized sugar and spice.

Jim Beam Black Label

Jim Beam Black Label is an American whiskey made with a mash bill of 75 percent corn 15 percent rye 10% malted barley.

It is aged for at least eight years in charred oak barrels and has a sweet flavor with notes of vanilla and caramelized sugar.

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof is an American whiskey made with a mash bill 80% corn 10% rye 10% malted barley.

It is aged for at least six years in charred oak barrels and has sweet flavors notes caramelized sugar, vanilla, and spice.

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is an American whiskey made with mash bill 72% corn 13% rye 15% malt barley.

It is aged for at least eight years in charred oak barrels ,it has sweet flavors notes caramelized sugar, vanilla, and spice.

Four Roses Small Batch

Four Roses Small Batch is an American whiskey made with mash bill 75% corn 20% rye 5% malt barley.

It is aged for at least six years in charred oak barrels ,it has sweet flavors notes caramelized sugar, vanilla, and spice.

Knob Creek Single Barrel

Knob Creek Single Barrel is an American whiskey made with mash bill 70% corn 16% rye 14% malt barley.

It is aged for at least nine years in charred oak barrels ,it has sweet flavors notes caramelized sugar, vanilla, and spice.

Booker's

Booker's is an American whiskey made with mash bill 75% corn 13% rye 12% malt barley.

It is aged for at least seven years in charred oak barrels, it has sweet flavors notes caramelized sugar, vanilla, and spice.

Important Factors to Consider

When Choosing a Bourbon When choosing a bourbon there are several factors to consider such as mash bill (the percentage of corn used), barrel proof (the alcohol content), age (the amount of time it has been aged in oak barrels), limited editions (special bottlings released by distilleries), and price (the cost per bottle).

Here are some other important factors to consider when choosing a bourbon:

Mash Bill

The mash bill refers to the percentage of corn used in making the whiskey.

Generally speaking, bourbons made with higher percentages of corn will have sweeter flavors while those made with lower percentages will be more complex in flavor.

Barrel Proof

The barrel proof refers to the alcohol content of the whiskey after it has been aged in oak barrels.

Generally speaking, bourbons with higher barrel proofs will have more intense flavors while those with lower barrel proofs will be smoother and more mellow in flavor.

Age

The age refers to the amount of time that the whiskey has been aged in oak barrels before bottling.

Generally speaking, older bourbons will have more complex flavors while younger bourbons will be lighter in flavor.

Limited Editions

Limited edition bottlings are special releases from distilleries that are usually only available for a short period of time or in limited quantities.

These bottlings often have unique flavors that cannot be found in regular production bourbons.

Price

The price refers to the cost per bottle for each type of whiskey.

Generally speaking, higher priced bourbons will have more complex flavors while lower priced bourbons will be lighter in flavor.

Bourbon Reviews & Ratings

When it comes to finding the best bourbon, reviews and ratings can be very helpful.

There are several websites that offer reviews and ratings on different types of bourbon.

Some of these include Fred Minnick’s Whiskey Row website, Pappy Van Winkle’s Bourbon Review website, and Bourbon Pursuit Podcast.

Fred Minnick's Whiskey Row

Fred Minnick Whiskey Row website offers reviews on different types of bourbon from around the world.

He also provides ratings on each type based on factors such as taste, aroma, finish, value for money, and overall impression.

Pappy Van Winkle’s Bourbon Review

Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon Review website provides detailed reviews on different types of bourbon from around the world.

They also provide ratings on each type based on factors such as taste, aroma, finish, value for money, and overall impression.

Bourbon Pursuit Podcast

The Bourbon Pursuit Podcast offers detailed reviews on different types of bourbon from around the world.

They also provide ratings on each type based on factors such as taste, aroma, finish, value for money, and overall impression.

Additional Bourbons

There are several different types of bourbon available today.

Each type has its own unique flavor profile and characteristics.

Wild Turkey

Wild Turkey is a type of bourbon that is made with a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 13 percent rye, and 12 percent malted barley.

It is aged in charred oak barrels for at least four years and has a sweet, smoky flavor with hints of vanilla and caramel.

Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery produces several different types of bourbon, including their flagship product, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

This bourbon is made with a mash bill of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley.

It is aged in charred oak barrels for at least four years and has a sweet, smoky flavor with hints of vanilla and caramel.