In this article, we are going to discuss the 5 highest quality Bourbon brands in the US. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the Bourbon industry in Kentucky, the recent investment in Bourbon, and sustainability in the Bourbon industry, head to 20 Highest Quality Bourbon Brands in the US.
5. Old Forester
Insider Monkey Score: 16
A truly rare and distinctive occasion took place in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1870. When George Garvin Brown sealed Bourbon in a bottle for the very first time, he did so knowing it would guarantee quality and consistency for Bourbon lovers everywhere. And nearly 150 Years later, the Brown-Forman Corporation still watches over the production of every drop of Old Forester with that same care.
Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only Bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during, and after Prohibition.
4. Elijah Craig
Insider Monkey Score: 16
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.
3. Russell’s Reserve
Insider Monkey Score: 18
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.
2. George T. Stagg
Insider Monkey Score: 19
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.
1. W. L. Weller
Insider Monkey Score: 30
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.
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