Best Bourbon: A Buyer's Guide by Use, Proof, and Budget
Whether you're building an Old Fashioned, hunting a value workhorse, or chasing a barrel-proof showpiece, the right bourbon depends on what you want from it. Below we cover what actually matters when choosing, the best bottles for each purpose, and trusted in-stock picks at every price point.
What Actually Matters When Choosing Bourbon
By law, bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn and aged in new charred oak, which gives it that signature sweetness and vanilla-caramel backbone. Beyond that, a few things shape the experience. Mashbill: high-rye bourbons drink spicier and drier, wheated bourbons (like Maker's and Old Fitzgerald) drink softer and sweeter. Proof: higher-proof and barrel-proof bottles deliver more intensity and stand up better in cocktails. Age: more years means more oak, though not always better. Explore the full bourbon collection to browse.
Best Bourbon for an Old Fashioned
The Old Fashioned puts bourbon center stage, so you want something flavorful and ideally 90-100+ proof to cut through the sugar and bitters. Value picks like Bowman Brothers Single Barrel (our own barrel pick) and Jefferson's Reserve Single Barrel punch well above their price. For more depth, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a cocktail powerhouse. See our full best bourbon for an Old Fashioned guide for the complete breakdown, and the Old Fashioned recipe itself.
Best Bourbon for the Money
Value in bourbon is about flavor per dollar, not just price. Bottles like Knob Creek 9 Year, Yellowstone 7 Year Single Barrel, and NULU Reserve deliver age-stated, higher-proof quality without the allocated-bottle markup. See our best bourbon under $100 and best bourbon under $50 guides.
Best Premium & Barrel-Proof Bourbon
When you want a showpiece, barrel-proof and age-stated bottles deliver. Stagg is an uncut, unfiltered Buffalo Trace cult favorite, Angel's Envy 10 Year Cask Strength brings a port-finished richness, and Barrell 12 Year showcases expert blending. For the ultimate pour, our exclusive Willett 14 Year Single Barrel is a Wooden Cork selection.
Choosing by Budget
Under $50: dependable everyday bourbons and single-barrel value like Bowman Brothers, Jefferson's Reserve, Knob Creek, and Maker's Mark. $50-$100: the sweet spot for proof and age, including Yellowstone, NULU, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. $100 and up: barrel-proof showpieces and collector bottles like Stagg, Angel's Envy Cask Strength, Barrell, and allocated single barrels.
Ready to choose? Explore the full bourbon collection, or for the rarest releases, our allocated bourbon guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a whiskey a bourbon?
Bourbon must be made in the USA from at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak barrels, distilled to no more than 160 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof. There's no minimum age for straight bourbon beyond two years.
What is the best bourbon for an Old Fashioned?
A flavorful 90-100+ proof bourbon stands up best to sugar and bitters. Single barrels like Bowman Brothers or Jefferson's Reserve, or a barrel-proof like Elijah Craig, all work beautifully.
What's the difference between high-rye and wheated bourbon?
High-rye bourbons are spicier and drier; wheated bourbons (using wheat as the secondary grain) are softer, rounder, and sweeter. It comes down to preference.
Is higher-proof bourbon better?
Not inherently, but higher proof delivers more flavor intensity and performs better in cocktails. Barrel-proof bottles let you add water to taste.
What is bottled-in-bond bourbon?
A bottled-in-bond bourbon is the product of one distillery and one distilling season, aged at least four years, and bottled at exactly 100 proof. It's a reliable mark of quality and value.
