What are the 10 best bourbons under $100? One of the best things that comes from liking bourbon is that it’s cheaper than alternatives, like scotch, at least in the U.S. There are several reasons for that. Scotch has a greater global reputation, which results in a higher price. In addition, bourbon doesn’t require a long aging process, because it’s usually made in a climate with more extreme temperature differences and is aged in new charred oak barrels, which reduce aging costs.
So, one of bourbon’s main advantages compared to other types of whiskey is the price. You can get a pretty decent single-barrel, small-batch bourbon under $50 (don’t miss our list chronicling the Best Bourbon For The Money: 10 Best Bourbons Under $50) and you can even spend less than $30 for a bottle of a smooth long-aged (10-12 years) bourbon (see our list of the 11 Best Cheap Bourbons Under $30 for proof). So, $100 can go a long way. Even though it might seem expensive, everyone who likes bourbon should try one of these at least once in their lives. It also goes without saying that a bottle of premium bourbon would make a great gift for someone, like your boss.
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Before we get to the list of the best bourbons under $100, we should explain what bourbon is and what factors justify its high price-tag. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, so it’s an across-the-pond relative of scotch. However, in the U.S there are many types of whiskeys, like corn whiskey (made from mash containing at least 80% corn), and rye whiskey (mash contains at least 51% rye). Bourbon is made from mash that contains at least 51% corn and it usually comes from Southern States, in particular Kentucky. The only exception is Tennessee, which developed its own type of whiskey: Tennessee whiskey, which tastes similar to bourbon, though the production process differs through something called the Lincoln County Process, which involves filtering the drink through charcoal before putting it in barrels.
So, what makes a good bourbon worth the high price? First of all, you should check out the distillery and the brand owned by it. Older and better-known distilleries like Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey and Bulleit are more likely to have an experienced distiller and they usually use high-quality ingredients to satisfy their customers. Then you should check out the age. An expensive bourbon should be aged from 10 to 20 years. Also, a premium bourbon will often be labeled “single barrel”, which means that each bottle will have some distinctive notes specific to the barrel it came from. Finally, some types of premium bourbon come from small-batches, and while this makes them more desirable, it may also be difficult to find them in stores.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at our list of the 10 best bourbons under $100. While the bottles presented here will provide a unique experience of flavor and taste, you might also want to check out other, less expensive bourbons made by the same brands and distilleries, because even at a lower price they usually provide a decent drink.
10. Willett Pot Still Reserve
Price: $35
The bottle housing Willet Distillery’s Willett Pot Still Reserve has a nice shape (like a decanter or a pot still), so only for its look it deserves a place on a shelf. However, the taste doesn’t disappoint either. The bourbon has a slightly sweet honey and caramel taste with hints of vanilla and oak. Bottled at 94 proof, Willett Pot Still Reserve is perfect to be enjoyed neat or with some ice.
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9. Elijah Craig Small Batch
Price: $36
Elijah Craig Small Batch is sourced in small batches of bourbon aged between eight and 12 years. The bourbon is a successor to Heaven Hill Distillery’s 12-year bourbon that had been around from 1986 until 2016. However, the company pointed out that its stock of 12-year-old barrels had been under pressure as the demand had gone up, which is why they removed the 12-year-old statement. The bourbon has a sweet aroma with hints of oak and leather and a taste with a slight spiciness and oak. It’s not very complex, but paying less than $40 for a bottle of well-aged bourbon is worth it.
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8. Four Roses Single Barrel
Price: $40
We are continuing our list of best bourbons under $100 with Single Barrel bourbon that is considered among the best and Four Roses Single Barrel can provide the best bang for the buck at around $40. The bourbon is made from mash containing 35% rye, which gives it some spiciness. Made by Kirin Brewery Company-owned Four Roses Distillery, the bourbon is bottled at 100 proof and has a complex bouquet of flavors. Aside from spiciness, the palate also has notes of honey peaches and oak.
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7. Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey
Price: $40
Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey is unique in several ways when compared to other bourbons. First of all, it’s made from 100% corn (remember, bourbon has to be made from at least 51% corn), so it’s sweeter than others. Also, it’s not made in Southern States, but comes from New York, where it is bottled by Tuthilltown Spirits in Gardner. It’s also aged in smaller barrels, which results in more surface to liquid contact. In the end you get a smooth and sweet bourbon, which may not be to everyone’s taste, but it’s definitely worth trying because of its uniqueness.
6. Eagle Rare 10-Year
Price: $41
Another well-aged bourbon that is a great bargain, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old comes from the Buffalo Trace distillery, which is one of the oldest in the U.S and is currently owned by the Sazerac Company. The bourbon greets you with aromas of toasted oak and orange peel and has a palate dominated by honey, walnuts and bread.
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5. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
Price: $60
Among affordable premium bourbons, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, the number 5 on our list of best bourbons under $100 is one of the rarest. It is released in small batches every year only on September 2, to celebrate the birthday of Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF.B), so every release is unique in its own way. The 2016 release marked the 15th anniversary of the Old Forester Birthday and the company went big to celebrate, releasing a 12-year-old bourbon and it marked the first time that Chris Morris (who selects the bourbon by himself every year) worked with bourbon specialist Jackie Zykan. They released only about 14,400 bottles last year, so if you can’t find it in stores, you might have to wait until this year’s release and get in line early, for this is one of the best bourbons under $100.
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4. Barrell Bourbon 007
Price: $80
Barrell, one of the best bourbons under $100, hasn’t been around for too long, operating since 2013. However, the company doesn’t distill the bourbon itself, but rather finds interesting barrels and then bottles them at cask strength. Its 007 batch is bottled at 122.4 proof after an aging period of five years. It has a sharp taste with citrusy hints and a nose of butter and brown sugar.
3. Parker’s Heritage: Promise of Hope
Price: $90
Parker’s Heritage comes from Heaven Hill Distillery. The name is not chosen arbitrarily, as the company donates $20 from the sale of every bottle to the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund. The bourbon is aged for ten years, but the Parker’s Heritage name can also be found among high-end bourbons. The company sells a 27-year-old small-batch bourbon that goes for over $3,100 per bottle. The cheaper version should also be good, as it is described as having a complex palate with many flavors, including caramelized sugar, apples, honey, and maple syrup.
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2. Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea
Price: $90
Jefferson’s Bourbon is another company that has no distillery and buys bourbon from other distillers, following which it either blends it, or uses some interesting aging techniques. The Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea that ranks second on our list of best bourbons under $100 is a unique bourbon because it is aged traditionally for six-to-eight years, after which each barrel is put on a ship to finish its aging process at sea for another six-to-ten months (each batch that goes through this process is called voyage). The idea is that being rocked by waves makes the bourbon contact better with the barrel, which results in a deeper flavor. The one problem with this bourbon (aside from its rareness) is that it’s still sourced bourbon, so every batch will be different and depend a lot on the mash and the distillery where it’s made.
1. George T. Stagg
Price: $100
George T. Stagg is one of the best bourbons made by Buffalo Trace, as part of its Antique Collection. The bourbon is aged for approximately 15 years and is bottled at 144.1 proof uncut and unfiltered. This gives it a thick aroma with strong notes of caramel, dark fruit and spice, and a woody palate with hints of honey and cherries. It can also be pretty rare, as the company usually releases it only once or twice a year.
These are the 10 best bourbons under $100. The bottles in this list were selected based on either some unique factor that separates them from the rest of the crowd, or due to their popularity and acclaim. Many of the brands included in the list, like George T. Stagg, Parker’s Heritage, and Jefferson’s also have bottles for the high-end market that are sold at hundreds and thousands of dollars, so it may be worth it to try their cheaper peers.
