# The best bourbons you can buy

The bourbons that bourbon writers, tasting panels (Breaking Bourbon, Fred Minnick) and spirits shops rate highest, mixing allocated legends with bottles you can actually find.

- 2156 votes · 18 items
- Jul 28, 2025 · Madison Weaver
- https://even.best/en/l/138/the-best-bourbons-you-can-buy

## Top 15

1. **Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15** (192 · ▲210 ▼18) — Wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, the most coveted bottle in American whiskey.
2. **George T. Stagg** (178 · ▲191 ▼13) — Uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
3. **Blanton's Original Single Barrel** (143 · ▲154 ▼11) — The first single-barrel bourbon (1984), with a racehorse stopper.
4. **Eagle Rare 10** (125 · ▲146 ▼21) — Ten-year Buffalo Trace bourbon: toffee, orange peel and leather at a fair price.
5. **Four Roses Single Barrel** (113 · ▲125 ▼12) — Spicy high-rye bourbon from Lawrenceburg.
6. **Buffalo Trace** (109 · ▲132 ▼23) — The flagship of the world's most awarded distillery, consistent and affordable.
7. **Elijah Craig Barrel Proof** (96 · ▲116 ▼20) — Heaven Hill's uncut small batch, released three times a year.
8. **W.L. Weller Special Reserve** (93 · ▲107 ▼14) — Wheated bourbon nicknamed the 'poor man's Pappy'.
9. **Maker's Mark** (76 · ▲92 ▼16) — Wheated bourbon from Loretto, famous for its red wax seal.
10. **Booker's** (72 · ▲91 ▼19) — Jim Beam's uncut, unfiltered bourbon created by Booker Noe.
11. **Woodford Reserve** (66 · ▲81 ▼15) — Pot and column still bourbon, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
12. **Wild Turkey Rare Breed** (63 · ▲81 ▼18) — Barrel-proof blend of 6, 8 and 12-year Wild Turkey.
13. **Russell's Reserve Single Barrel** (56 · ▲77 ▼21) — Wild Turkey's Russell family single barrel, praised by critics.
14. **Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style** (41 · ▲66 ▼25) — 115 proof, recreating the bourbon sold during Prohibition.
15. **Knob Creek 9** (36 · ▲61 ▼25) — Nine-year Jim Beam small batch at 100 proof.
16. **Michter's US\*1 Small Batch** (33 · ▲59 ▼26) — Smooth, sweet Louisville bourbon from a revived historic name.
17. **1792 Full Proof** (30 · ▲35 ▼5) — Barton 1792 Distillery bourbon bottled at barrel entry proof (125), from Bardstown, Kentucky.
18. **Larceny Barrel Proof** (16 · ▲23 ▼7) — Wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill released in small batches at barrel proof three times a year.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.