This week, we'll start considering the best ways to save a little cash and still drink well, one spirit at a time. Cheap Bottle: Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Larceny Bourbon. Bourbon is distinctly American. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The Willett Distillery has been making bourbon every since, and visitors can now take in all its history and whiskey through two different tours. 7 Wheated Whiskeys That Are Cheaper Than Pappy (and Nearly as Good) By Nicholas Mancall-Bitel. In Kentucky, bourbon is much more than a drink. You can also pay a visit to the bourbon warehouse and bottling facility in Cox's Creek. The Old Fashioned cocktail was invented in Louisville sometime in the 1800s, but don't let the name fool you; this timeless classic is more popular than ever. Instead, it was allowed to rest until it hit a point the distillers wanted to hit and then bottled as is. Here, I'm going to discuss 10 of my favorites. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It certainly helps that the brand's home is one of the oldest distilleries in Kentucky (named a National Historic Landmark, it was established by Elijah Pepper in 1812, per The Spirits Educator). Kentucky Peerless High Rye Bourbon. On the flip side, expensive bourbon isnt always as refined as it seems. This origin holds today, as bourbons can only be classified as such if their mash bill contains at least 51% corn (via Bourbon Gospel). Brand Woodford Reserve. Bourbon | Kentucky Tourism - State of Kentucky - Visit Kentucky Kentucky is the ground zero of the bourbon market. . But good luck finding that bottle of Pappy Van WInkle, and congratulations if you can afford it. 83 reviews. "If you wouldnt drink it straight, I wouldnt recommend making drinks with it. Makers Mark is a fantastic example of a budget wheated bourbon. Add a bit of water to bring out butterscotch, vanilla, and caramel flavors., Region: Kentucky | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Stone fruit, Brown sugar, A wheated bourbon is made using wheat as the secondary flavoring grain after corn, as opposed to most bourbon which uses rye. . Makes a killer Old Fashioned and an equally good Manhattan, and it could work in any number of whiskey drink recipes. While not barrel strength, this still packs a punch. I like this on the rocks and in cocktails, too. At the very least, this experiment is a good way to see how much luck and refinement go into making expensive bourbons worth the price when you can quite literally compare them to the cheaper expressions of the exact same juice. Old Forester 86 Proof. The legacy was passed down three generations to James who, in 1933 when Prohibition ended, recreated his family's original yeast recipe and founded the James B. Distilling Company within the year. The official cocktail of the Kentucky Derby, this drink is a summertime staple especially when served in a frosty silver cup. An omnipresent fixture on many bars, Knob Creek 9 Year is probably the most versatile and affordable bourbon on the market. If you only have time to visit one bourbon distillery in Kentucky, Buffalo Trace should probably be the one. With careful reflection, he recalled the earlier days of his career in the late 1940s when he worked under Colonel Albert B. Blanton. As for geographical authenticity, bourbon doesn't have to be made in Kentucky, although some purists will be sure to argue. When you couple that with the fact that people love what they cant get, Kentucky becomes a breeding ground for Pappy consumers. This is an extended, behind-the-scenes tour of the distillery, lab, and warehouse alongside the Master Distiller Chris Morris or Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall, and ends with the Family of Brand's tasting. Its a way of life. The Case Against Kentucky, Lifting the shroud on malted corn bourbon with Frey Ranch's Co-Founder Colby Frey, Why Bardstown Bourbon Co. Purchase of Green River Spirits Matters. Theres a clear taste of the honey, vanilla, and toffee carrying the sip towards a very subdued spice and oak. Take in the floral paradise of the sunken garden before ending the tour with a unique tasting of all the spirits Castle & Key has to offer. ABV:43.3% |Age:9 years |Volume:750 ml. He has two cookbooks and writes about cocktails for Serious Eats. The most expensive bourbon from Kentucky. The juice is really crafted as an entry point to Woodfords wider line that showcases their aging and blending prowess. Then the brand got quiet for a time in the U.S., until it slowly started rolling out its small-batch and single-barrel releases. The exact mash bill is kept a secret but word on the street is that its a fairly low-rye mash bill with 12 to 15 percent rye. I can't speak for all Kentucky natives here but I live in the western part of the state and can pretty much get any bottle I want besides pappy and btacs. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Review, Michters US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review, The 14 Best Bourbons for Beginners in 2023, The 10 Best Wheated Bourbons to Drink in 2023, The Best Whiskeys to Use for Old Fashioneds, The 12 Best Bourbons Under $50 to Drink in 2023, The Best Cheap Alcohol of 2023, According to Bartenders, The 10 Best Bourbons for Manhattans in 2022, The 12 Best Kentucky Bourbons to Drink in 2023, The Best Whiskeys for Beginners, From Bourbon to Rye, For the Best Variety and Selection, Heres Where to Buy Bourbon Online, The 10 Best Whiskeys for Highballs in 2022, The 9 Best Whiskeys for Whiskey Sours in 2022. Distillery: Brown Forman Distillery in Shively, KY (Brown-Forman) If you don't like that, I can't help you. 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, ten percent malted barley. Many people that dont even drink bourbon now know about Pappy and that is especially true in Kentucky. For those on a budget, we suggest Fistful of Bourbon. Although farther away from others on the list, this spot is worth traveling to. ABV: 43% Jonah Flicker is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn whose work focuses on spirits, food and travel. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Cheapest Whiskey - Bourbon Spirits - Wine-Searcher A younger generation of Hendersons has since joined the team, and Angel's Envy is a thriving family business. Not only does it make a super sipper, but that 101 proof also gives it the heft to battle a good portion of ice and let flavors ring out in a cocktail. Henderson's nearly four decades of experience in the bourbon industry earned him induction into the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame as well as a lifetime achievement award from Malt Advocate. . For instance, Jim Beam, Bakers, Knob Creek, Old Crow, and Old Taylor all have the exact same mash bill (75/13/12 corn/rye/barley), barrel char (level #4), and barreling proof (125 proof). There is also a bunch that you might find in the wild but, if you hesitate you won't find it when you go back. Trip-C REDDIT. You will also get hints of oak, clove, and vanilla spice. There are so many expensive bottles of bourbon out there these days, from annual limited releases to one-off whiskeys aged for a decade or more. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon at Drizly, Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon at Drizly, Heaven Hill White Label at Minibar Delivery, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Whiskey at Drizly, Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. Horse & Barrel Nestled right in next to Nicholson's, this bar is dedicated to bourbon. This is a classic bourbon thats been around for a long time. Learn more. Noah's Mill Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Not only is it cheap, but its also incredibly good. It's fine to sip or just to mix into a highball. Bourbon whiskey is a type of American whiskey that is a barrel-aged distilled liquor made mainly from corn. The real truth is that Kentucky may even be one of the worst states to buy Pappy.Everyone in Kentucky drinks bourbon. | Which state is the superior whiskey producer, Kentucky bourbon or Tennessee whiskey? Finally, the Blend experience grants the opportunity to blend your very own whiskey based on your preference and guided by experts and then bottle it to take home. #4 barrel char. ", ABV: 50% | Age: 4+ years | Volume: 700 mL, 1 L. While Texas is better known for BBQ than it is bourbon, theres a handful of distilleries in the Lone Star State making beautiful, absolutely underrated bourbon. This blend is from a daily that has a long history of whiskey-making. Weve highlighted that time and again. Jim Beam may be the most commercially advertised, recognizable, and least expensive bourbon on this list. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac, and all things distilled. The rye gives it a little spice and kick, but it's still a pretty smooth sipper. I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I have made Old Fashioneds and Bourbon Sours with Four Roses, and have been asked for another round! He also enjoys it neat or on the rocks. The 10 Best Budget Bourbons - Serious Eats Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. That's how reality is most of the time, but advertising doesn't play well with nuance. "Consider the brand's reputation and historysome well-respected distilleries offer affordable options," he says. Average Price: $20. Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Old Crow Reserve is a bump up from regular Old Crow. Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon at Drizly, Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Whiskey at Drizly, Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon at Drizly, Fistful of Bourbon Whiskey Blend at Drizly, Jack Daniels Bonded Tennessee Whiskey at Drizly, Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon at Drizly, Old Grand-Dad Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at Drizly, Knob Creek 9 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, The Best Decanters for Making Every Whiskey Look Top-Shelf, Here Are the Best Whiskey Stones to Make Your Drinks Perfectly Cool, New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Old Grand-Dad 114 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, The 8 Best Bitters for Whiskey Cocktails with Flavor. Nicholas McClelland is a freelance writer who covers whisk(e)y and spirits for The Spruce Eats. This distillery is one of the newest on this list, opening its doors for the first time in 2016 in downtown Louisville, and a much-needed expansion was completed in 2022 (via Distillery Trail). For a whiskey to be considered bourbon it must be produced in the United States, made from a grain mixture that is at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak containers, Distilled to no more than . 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This six-year-old high-rye bourbon is a great value for the price, and it simply tastes good. It's made with only the finest ingredients and comes in small batches, meaning that each batch contains 80 carefully selected barrels of goodness. This award . "I usually try and find bourbon that is at least two years old that will take a lot of the rough edges off and provide a more complex, flavorful whiskey," says Jay Manrique. Opinion: Is 95% Of The World's Bourbon Truly Made In Kentucky? Entry proof is 125 proof/62.5 percent. Relationships with the bourbon gatekeepers (i.e. Only available at the distillery, each bottling of these limited-production bourbons highlights a different aspect of the brand's history or production. This means it's bottled at 100 proof and at least four years old, among a few other qualifications. Is bourbon cheaper in Kentucky? : r/WhiskeyTribe - Reddit Cheapest; Based on average prices excluding tax . While the others are packed with history, beautiful sites, and great whiskey, they may pale in comparison to this one. Though its well known that Kentucky produces the vast majority in actual volume of the worlds bourbon at an estimated 90-95%, hundreds of new distilleries which translates into thousands of new bottling are popping up around the country, with an estimated 700+craft distilleries as of this writing. What would you add to this list? I found that I liked it more in cocktails than I did on the rocks, so if you like your Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, but you want to economize, this is a good way to go. A slice of citrus arrives to lighten everything up on the short end. $39.99. Made with a mash bill of blue corn, Texas wheat, Texas rye, and malted barley, distilled in a pot still, then aged for a minimum two years in new charred oak. As one of the few distillers permitted to continue operation through Prohibition, Buffalo Trace is one of the country's oldest, continuously operating bourbon makers, according to The Spirits Business. No, this isnt as complex as Old Fitzgerald. This reinvention has clearly sustained the brand, as Maker's Mark remains one of the most popular bottles of bourbon today (via Whiskey Raiders). Red winter wheat, along with corn and malted barley, give this bourbon a fantastic balance between the vanilla sweetness, cinnamon, toasted oak, spicy notes, and hints of fruit, says Pinault. Most of these Kentucky theories were probably true 5-10 years ago when bourbon wasnt as widely popular as it is today. Farmer and Sons in Hudson, New York. Get great travel ideas and more useful tips for building your dream trip itinerary. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. All rights reserved. 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