The best bourbons you can buy
The top 3 according to 2,156 votes from people: Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 · George T. Stagg · Blanton's Original Single Barrel. (Updated Dec 6, 2025.)
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.
Top 15
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1
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15
Wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, the most coveted bottle in American whiskey.
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2
George T. Stagg
Uncut, unfiltered barrel-proof bourbon from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.
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3
Blanton's Original Single Barrel
The first single-barrel bourbon (1984), with a racehorse stopper.
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4
Eagle Rare 10
Ten-year Buffalo Trace bourbon: toffee, orange peel and leather at a fair price.
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5
Four Roses Single Barrel
Spicy high-rye bourbon from Lawrenceburg.
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6
Buffalo Trace
The flagship of the world's most awarded distillery, consistent and affordable.
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7
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Heaven Hill's uncut small batch, released three times a year.
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8
W.L. Weller Special Reserve
Wheated bourbon nicknamed the 'poor man's Pappy'.
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9
Maker's Mark
Wheated bourbon from Loretto, famous for its red wax seal.
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10
Booker's
Jim Beam's uncut, unfiltered bourbon created by Booker Noe.
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11
Woodford Reserve
Pot and column still bourbon, the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
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12
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Barrel-proof blend of 6, 8 and 12-year Wild Turkey.
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13
Russell's Reserve Single Barrel
Wild Turkey's Russell family single barrel, praised by critics.
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14
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
115 proof, recreating the bourbon sold during Prohibition.
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15
Knob Creek 9
Nine-year Jim Beam small batch at 100 proof.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 15… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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16
Michter's US*1 Small Batch
Smooth, sweet Louisville bourbon from a revived historic name.
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17
1792 Full Proof
Barton 1792 Distillery bourbon bottled at barrel entry proof (125), from Bardstown, Kentucky.
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18
Larceny Barrel Proof
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.
Is something missing?
Comments (19)
The bourbon hunting culture is exhausting, just drink what you like.
Finally found Blanton's at retail this month. Still worth the hype? Yes.
Eagle Rare is still the best value on this list.
Buffalo Trace is still my daily pour, nothing beats it for the price
Great list, now I need a bigger shelf.
Weller Special Reserve is basically 'Pappy lite' for a fraction of the price.
Same mash bill, but saying it tastes like Pappy is a stretch.
Buffalo Trace is the best value bourbon, if you can find it on the shelf.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches are some of the best value in bourbon.
Maker's Mark on a best-of list is a bit generous.
Maker's 46 maybe, the standard one is fine for cocktails.
Eagle Rare 10 is my daily sipper, fantastic for the price
1792 Full Proof and Larceny Barrel Proof deserve a mention, great cask strength options.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is the best barrel proof you can actually find on shelves.
George T. Stagg is a monster, add a few drops of water.
Woodford is overpriced for what it is.
Russell's Single Barrel, so underrated.
Four Roses Single Barrel, the OBSV recipe is spicy and perfect.
Pappy at #1 but nobody can actually buy it at MSRP lol