In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 highest quality whiskey brands in the US. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the global whiskey market, the surge in American spirits exports, and sustainability in the American whiskey industry, head to 25 Highest Quality Whiskey Brands in the US.
10. Willett
Insider Monkey Score: 9
The Willett Bourbons are some of the most sought-after and highly respected whiskeys on the market. Aged between 8 to 10 years and bottled at 47% ABV, Willett Pot Still is a hand-selected Bourbon that comes in one of the coolest decanters on the market.
The Willett Distillery, also known as Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD), is a family-owned and operated distillery located in Bardstown, KY.
9. Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr.
Insider Monkey Score: 9
Colonel Taylor was a prominent figure in the Bourbon world and is often referred to as the ‘founding father’ of this industry. Produced by the Buffalo Trace distillery, E.H. Taylor is one of the most highly appreciated and hardest-to-find Bourbon brands on the market. Bottles tend to fly off the shelves when available, and the more limited expressions can sometimes cost thousands of dollars on the secondary market.
8. Maker’s Mark
Insider Monkey Score: 10
Never bitter or sharp, Maker’s Mark is made with soft red winter wheat instead of the usual rye for a one-of-a-kind, full-flavored Bourbon. To ensure consistency, every barrel is rotated by hand and the Bourbon is aged to taste, not time.
Owned by Beam Suntory, the Maker’s Mark Distillery is the sixth-largest Bourbon distillery in the world. Located in Loretto, KY, the distillery produces 16 brands, labels, and variations of Bourbon.
7. Stagg Jr.
Insider Monkey Score: 10
Hailing from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof is renowned for its intense flavor profile, stemming from a careful selection of the finest ingredients and a meticulous aging process. Every bottle of this High-End Whiskey is a testament to the distillery’s commitment to producing an unparalleled Bourbon experience.
This expression releases twice a year and, because it’s typically aged for 8 to 9 years and bottled at barrel-proof, maintains a somewhat consistent proof point of around 130.
6. Four Roses
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Four Roses is a good American whiskey that blends up to 10 of its distinct Bourbon recipes, resulting in a versatile, easy-drinking offering that appeals to casual fans and enthusiasts alike. The brand was acquired by the Japanese Kirin Holdings Company in 2002.
Four Roses is included among the Top 10 Whiskey Brands in America.
5. Elijah Craig
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Elijah Craig is credited as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, earning his place in history as the ‘Father of Bourbon.’ The charred barrel transformed the clear liquid inside into an intense amber whiskey made rich with the flavors of the wood, which we now recognize as Bourbon.
Today, Heaven Hill Distillery preserves the Bourbon making traditions developed by Elijah Craig.
4. Russell’s Reserve
Insider Monkey Score: 12
Master distillers and premier whiskey makers Jimmy and Eddie Russell have brought nearly 100 years of combined experience to artfully craft the Russell’s Reserve premium Bourbon whiskey. In 1998, to celebrate Jimmy’s 45 years of service at the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, KY, Eddie crafted a special small-batch Bourbon that he called Russell’s Reserve.
In 2009, Wild Turkey – and thus Russell’s Reserve – was acquired by the Campari Group, one of the largest companies in global spirits. Since the acquisition, Campari has invested over $300 million into expanding Wild Turkey and Russell’s Reserve’s production capacity.
3. Pappy Van Winkle
Insider Monkey Score: 14
Another incredibly rare and Top Shelf Bourbon Brand produced at the Buffalo Trace distillery, Pappy Van Winkle has been admired by Bourbon connoisseurs for years thanks to its wheated mash bill. Though tens of thousands of new bottles are released each November, the secondary market for Pappy continues to soar, and in 2018, one bottle of Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 23-year-old Bourbon even began auctioning at $20,000.
The Van Winkle brand has won 41 awards in the last 15 years, making its offerings some of the Best Whiskeys You Can Buy.
2. W. L. Weller
Insider Monkey Score: 15
A true distilling pioneer, William Larue Weller is credited with being the first distiller to produce Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey using wheat instead of rye in the mash bill.
Produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY, the W. L. Weller brand has been owned by the Sazerac Company since 1999. The Frankfort facility is the oldest continuously operating distillery in America, and even became a National Historic Landmark in 2013.
1. George T. Stagg
Insider Monkey Score: 17
George T. Stagg built the most dominant American distillery of the 19th century, during a time known as the Gilded Age of Bourbon. This is a limited-production Bourbon whiskey distributed by Buffalo Trace Distillery, as part of the distillery’s ‘Antique Collection’ series. Aged in new charred oak barrels for no less than 15 years, this robust, uncut, and unfiltered Bourbon whiskey boasts the bold character that is reminiscent of the man himself.
George T. Stagg is not only the Highest Quality Whiskey in America, but is also counted among the Best Whiskey Brands in the World.
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