As we polish off the final of our Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time to start out eager about which bottles to provide our nearest and dearest this vacation season. However in the case of figuring out which bourbon is finest for the whiskey lover in your life, it may be a problem at finest, particularly with so many phenomenal releases accessible right this moment. However worry not. The bourbon market is huge, and there’s one thing on the market for everybody.
From long-established bartender favorites to bottles that proceed to push the boundaries of whiskey manufacturing, we chosen a few of the most giftable expressions within the present bourbon panorama. Preserve studying to take a look at the seven finest bottles to provide this vacation season.
Greatest Funds Bourbon: Wild Turkey 101
Greatest Splurge Bourbon: Heaven Hill Heritage Assortment 18-Yr-Previous Bourbon
Greatest Bourbon for Newcomers: Angel’s Envy Port Wine Completed
Greatest Bourbon for Whiskey Geeks: Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B
Greatest Bourbon for Cocktail Lovers: Knob Creek 9-Yr-Previous Bourbon Whiskey
Greatest Bourbon to Impress: Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged (2024)
Greatest Restricted-Version Bourbon: BATC George T. Stagg
Greatest Funds Bourbon
Wild Turkey 101
A wonderful choose for each newcomers and seasoned aficionados, Wild Turkey 101 is well some of the fashionable funds picks in the marketplace. A bartender favourite, this 50.5 p.c ABV whiskey holds up simply as properly in cocktails because it does neat or over an ice dice. Made with a high-rye mash invoice, Wild Turkey 101 presents notes of toasted sourdough alongside bourbon’s signature wealthy caramel taste.
Common Value: $23
Score: 88
Greatest Splurge Bourbon
Heaven Hill Heritage Assortment 18-Yr-Previous Bourbon
A restricted launch from Heaven Hill, the Heritage Assortment 18-Yr-Previous Bourbon was certainly one of VinePair’s highest-scoring bourbons of 2024. The whiskey is made with the identical mash invoice as Heaven Hill’s commonplace bourbon, which incorporates 78 p.c corn, 12 p.c malted barley, and 10 p.c rye. Simply 133 barrels had been used to craft this launch, every of which was chosen by grasp distiller Conor O’Driscoll to reveal the strong depth that comes with age, whereas steering away from any overly oaked, woody influences. And the result’s a knockout. Bottled at 120 proof, the nostril lends notes of nougat, semi-sweet chocolate, and caramel, with undercurrents of toasted nuts and lavender. Confectioners’ sugar, oak spice, and candied strawberries and oranges wash throughout the palate earlier than a protracted end accented with notes of pepper, brown sugar, and baked pears rounds issues out.
Common Value: $300
Score: 97
Greatest Bourbon for Newcomers
Angel’s Envy Port Wine Completed
Angel’s Envy was launched in 2011 and shortly solidified itself as one of many first American whiskey manufacturers to make use of the double-maturation method generally utilized in Scotch manufacturing. Its flagship launch — Angel’s Envy Port Wine Completed — sees bourbon aged in new charred American oak casks earlier than it’s completed in ex-port wine barrels for 3 to 6 months. The port end imbues the spirit with a lush purple fruit notice on the nostril earlier than butterscotch, black pepper, and charred oak take over on the palate. It’s a barely sweeter expression, making it good for these simply dipping their toes into the large world of bourbon.
Common Value: $52
Score: 92
Greatest Bourbon for Whiskey Geeks
Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B
Russell’s Reserve, an offshoot of the Wild Turkey lineup, launched its Single Rickhouse Sequence in 2022 to reveal the nuance of spirits aged in various places. Every bottle within the limited-release assortment is produced utilizing barrels from a singular rickhouse, with this 12 months’s expression sourced from the sixth ground of Rickhouse B the place air temperatures are sometimes warmest. Bottled at 60.1 p.c ABV, Camp Nelson B isn’t simply the booziest providing within the assortment, it’s the highest-proof bottle in Russell’s Reserve’s whole portfolio. That includes a mash invoice of 75 p.c corn, 13 p.c rye, and 12 p.c malted barley, the bourbon is aged for no less than 10 years and presents candy oak, molasses, and wealthy vanilla aromas. On the palate, honeyed sweetness abounds with help from darkish fruit, brown butter, and cooling menthol notes. It’s a launch that calls for a spot on each bourbon aficionado’s residence bar — that’s if yow will discover a bottle.
Common Value: $300
Score: 96
Greatest Bourbon for Cocktail Lovers
Knob Creek 9-Yr-Previous Bourbon Whiskey
A lot of Knob Creek’s aged bourbons ship sturdy caramel and peanut notes, however when you choose your whiskey on the fruitier aspect, look no additional than the model’s 9-year-old bourbon. Bottled at 50 p.c ABV, the liquid exudes vivid purple fruit aromas and a plethora of baking spices that gained’t really feel watered down when it dilutes with ice. Whereas one may hesitate to toss a 9-year-old bourbon into their cocktail, at simply $37, you gained’t really feel responsible stirring this into an Previous Usual.
Common Value: $37
Score: 89
Greatest Bourbon to Impress
Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged (2024)
The place Maker’s Mark was as soon as historically a model missing an age-statement, it modified the sport in 2023 with the launch of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, a mix of 11- and 12-year-old bourbons. This 12 months’s bottling pushes issues even additional. A mix of 12-year-old and 13-year-old bourbons, the spirit rested in the identical limestone warehouse used for 2023’s launch, which the model says prevents whiskey from changing into overly oaked. The 2024 bottling imparts aromas of baked apple and pear, toasted orange peel, marmalade, and darkish cherry. A viscous, buttery palate coats the tongue in cocoa, caramel, and dried raspberry notes with pronounced drying tannins offering a little bit of steadiness.
Common Value: $175
Score: 96
Greatest Restricted-Version Bourbon
BATC George T. Stagg
Buffalo Hint’s annual Vintage Assortment drop is well some of the extremely anticipated whiskey releases of the 12 months, with every bottle within the meeting providing beautiful character. This 12 months’s George T. Stagg expression is completely no exception. Bottled at a whopping 68.05 p.c ABV, the bourbon is often the boldest providing within the five-bottle assortment, typically demonstrating spectacular finesse regardless of its excessive proof. Aged for 15 years and a pair of months, the nostril provides off aromas of black cherry, cinnamon sugar, vanilla extract, and strong barrel char, which develops additional over time. Syrupy Luxardo cherry notes permeate the style buds alongside oak tannins and caramel sweetness with darkish fruit creating on the mid-palate. It’s a bourbon value savoring, however getting your arms on a bottle may very well be a Sisyphean job. However whereas it’s certain to be dearer on the secondary market, it doubtless gained’t fetch the identical elevated price ticket as different expressions within the lineup like Eagle Uncommon 17, William Larue Weller, and Sazerac 18.
Common Value: $150
Score: 96
