When it comes to building the ultimate home bar, having a premium bourbon collection is non-negotiable. But with so many options on the market, it can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack of whiskey.
That's why we've put together a list of the 15 top bourbons to add to your home bar in 2023. These are the rare and hard to find bottles that will impress your friends, make your old fashioned taste better, and give you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside.
Our expertly curated list features the best bourbon brands, top-shelf bourbons, and highly sought after bottles that are perfect for gifting, sipping, and mixing in cocktails.
Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon
Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon is aged for 8-9 years and is known for its smooth, rich flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. What sets Blanton's apart is that it's the first single barrel bourbon ever sold. Each bottle is hand-bottled and labeled with the barrel number and the bottling date, making it a unique experience with every bottle.
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W.L Weller Special Reserve Bourbon Whiskey
W.L Weller Special Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 7 years and is known for its smooth, complex flavor. It's a great option for those who prefer a sweeter bourbon and it's also a great value for the price. W.L Weller is considered a "wheated bourbon" which means that instead of using the traditional rye in the mash bill, it uses wheat. This gives it a softer and sweeter taste than most bourbons, making it perfect for beginners.
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Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon
Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is aged for 10 years and is known for its strong, full-bodied flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks and it's also a great value for the price. What makes Eagle Rare stand out is that it's aged for a full decade, which gives it a rich and smooth flavor that's hard to beat. It's a great option for collectors and connoisseurs looking for a top-shelf, aged bourbon.
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Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 8 years and is known for its smooth, well-rounded flavor. It's a great option for those who prefer a more traditional bourbon flavor. It's also a great value for the price. Buffalo Trace is a top-shelf brand, known for producing some of the most highly sought after bourbons in the market, like Pappy Van Winkle, making it a must-have for bourbon enthusiasts and aficionados.
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Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon is aged for 10 years and is known for its complex, rich flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. The Colonel E.H. Taylor line of bourbons are made in small batches and are aged in the historic barrel houses of the Buffalo Trace distillery, adding to its unique flavor profile and making it a great option for whiskey lovers and connoisseurs.
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Blanton’s ‘Black Label’ Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Blanton’s ‘Black Label’ Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 8-9 years and is known for its smooth, rich flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Blanton's Black Label is a limited edition bottling, only available in select markets, making it a highly sought after bottle.
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Blanton's Gold Edition Straight Bourbon
Blanton's Gold Edition Straight Bourbon is aged for 8-9 years and is known for its rich, complex flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Blanton's Gold Edition is a special release, aged in barrels hand-selected by the master distiller, giving it a unique and exceptional taste.
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Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 6 years and is finished in port wine barrels. It's known for its unique, smooth flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. What makes Angel's Envy stand out is the finishing process, where the bourbon is aged for an additional period in port wine barrels. This imparts a distinct sweetness and complexity to the final product.
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Old Weller Antique 107 Proof Bourbon Whiskey
Old Weller Antique 107 Proof Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 7 years and is known for its strong, full-bodied flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Old Weller Antique is a high-proof bourbon, bottling at 107 proof, giving it a bold and robust taste.
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Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 94 Proof
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon 94 Proof is aged for 7 years and is known for its unique, smooth flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Willett Pot Still Reserve is made using a traditional copper pot still, which gives it a distinct flavor profile compared to other bourbons.
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Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Barrel Finish Bourbon
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Barrel Finish Bourbon is aged for 7 years and is known for its smooth, rich flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is aged in two different types of oak barrels, one being heavily toasted and the other being lightly charred. This imparts a rich and complex flavor that's hard to beat.
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Old RIP Van Winkle 10 Years
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old 107 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 10 years and is known for its smooth, complex flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Old Rip Van Winkle is a highly sought after brand and their 10 year bottling is considered one of the best in the market, making it a perfect sipping bourbon.
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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged for 6 years and is known for its unique, bold flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Old Forester 1920 is a throwback to the prohibition era, when bourbon was aged for a shorter period of time. This gives it a bolder and more robust flavor than most bourbons.
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Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon
Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon is aged for 6 years and is known for its smooth, rich flavor. It's perfect for sipping neat or on the rocks. Smoke Wagon Small Batch is a small batch release, with a limited number of bottles produced, making it a highly sought after bottle.
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Heaven’s Door Straight Bourbon
Heaven's Door Straight Bourbon is a premium whiskey that is known for its smooth and complex flavor profile. It is a blend of three straight bourbons, aged between 7 to 8 years, that are all made from a mash bill of 70% corn, 18% rye, and 12% malted barley. The whiskey is aged in new American oak barrels and is bottled at a strength of 43% ABV.
The whiskey has a rich amber color with a nose of vanilla, caramel, and honey. On the palate, it has a smooth and well-balanced flavor with notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey, with a hint of spices, and a long finish.
Heaven's Door was founded by Bob Dylan, who is not just a musician but also a whiskey lover and collector. He partnered with Marc Bushala, a veteran spirits entrepreneur, to create a whiskey that reflects his passion for quality and craftsmanship. The brand takes its name from one of Dylan's most popular songs, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” The unique bottle design is inspired by iron gates that Dylan created in his metalworking studio.
Heaven's Door Straight Bourbon is a perfect whiskey for those who appreciate quality and craftsmanship. Its smooth and complex flavor profile, combined with its unique history and brand story, make it a must-have for any whiskey enthusiast.
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Conclusion
As you can see, each of these bourbons has its own unique features that make it the best in its class.
From the smooth and rich flavors of Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon to the unique and robust taste of WhistlePig Piggyback 100 Rye Whiskey, there's a bourbon on this list for every taste preference.
Whether you're looking for the best bourbon for sipping, the best bourbon for cocktails, or the best bourbon for gifting, our list has something for everyone.
Regardless of whether you are a bourbon aficionado or a newcomer to the world of whiskey, these 15 bottles are sure to impress.