The number of distilleries in America right now is truly baffling. You’ve got modern and traditional producers making numerous styles of whiskey, from twists on classic bottles, such as new barrel-proof releases, to the introduction of something brand new and experimental, like Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash.
I spent years as a manager at The Whisky Shop in Manchester, where I sold and recommended thousands of bottles, tasted more than 1,000 whiskies and whiskeys, and had the chance to explore the ever-expanding world of American whiskey in real depth. These are the brands and distilleries that stood out to me most.
This list ranks what I believe to be nine of the biggest and most interesting distilleries in America, focusing on the different styles of whiskey they produce, as well as how large, available, and exciting their releases are. As always, check out the list and leave us a comment if you think we’ve missed someone off, or if you’d put them in a different order.
9. Westward Whiskey
Westward has been at the forefront of helping to develop the American single malt market in a massive way. Between Westward and Westland, they’ve been working hard across multiple markets, mostly through whiskey festivals and large events where they can show and tell people what they’ve been producing.
Their core bottle is very solid, with a mix of styles from across the Atlantic. It follows the rules of classic single malt production, but with maturation in lightly toasted fresh American oak for that touch of domestic flavor. It’s a brand you should really get involved with if single malts are your thing, especially if you enjoy exploring those produced across the globe.
You can also take a keen interest if you’re into more experimental casks. Westward currently has an ex-stout cask release and a Pinot Noir barrel release available.
8. Jim Beam
Jim Beam is one of the largest distilleries in the world, and a company that produces so many other brands of bourbon. I can’t count how many times I’ve recommended Jim Beam and its products over the years.
Personal highlights, and bottles that many of us love, include brands like Baker’s, Booker’s, and Old Grand-Dad. Baker’s and Booker’s offer higher-proof and barrel-proof versions of that core Jim Beam style. They’re layered with rich caramel, tobacco, barrel spice, and toasted grain notes.
Old Grand-Dad is still, to this day, one of the best-value high-rye bourbons on the market. Whether you’re going after the core release or the 114 proof release, they’re just excellent whiskeys. That’s all without even mentioning the core range of Jim Beam products.
I do miss Jim Beam Single Barrel 12 Year Old. That was an outstanding bottle of bourbon, and the current Jim Beam 7 Year Old Black Label is excellent. Sadly, with so much product, I feel like Jim Beam as a brand sometimes disappears into the background as you focus on the other names, like Basil Hayden, Booker’s, or Baker’s.
7. Michter’s
Michter’s can certainly be seen as more of a boutique distillery in how it approaches its style. It has one of the lowest barrel-entry proofs in American whiskey, and it’s producing some interesting bottles outside of just bourbon and rye.
Its Sour Mash release and American Whiskey both skate the line of not quite being classic or well-known styles, but they are fun and different. Michter’s also lays claim to being one of the oldest distilleries in America.
On the more premium side of things, Michter’s has some of the oldest releases of whiskey from the American side of the market, with massive demand behind them. Its 10 Year Old bourbon and rye products would constantly sell out as soon as they hit the shelves.
A gentle, soft style of whiskey from all angles, Michter’s has certainly become a brand with a lot of positive focus on it from across the world.
6. Woodford Reserve
You could argue that Woodford Reserve is the most premium brand on this list. I know it doesn’t own other brands with long queues, huge demand, or massive secondary market value. However, the way Woodford has positioned itself among other brands has somehow created the feel of a more premium product.
That’s an odd thing to say when regular bottles of Woodford Reserve bourbon can be found for as little as £25 in the UK. However, when it comes to the Double Oaked release, the brand has picked up an even greater following thanks to that crazy, decadent flavor profile.
Then we have releases from the Master’s Collection and the brand’s wild journey through experimentation. I remember the first release coming out, and I regret not buying more of them. From Maple Wood Finish and Seasoned Oak Finish to White Corn, wine cask maturation, and Double Double Oaked releases, the lineup is insane and very exciting.
Essentially, if you want affordable and available, or really off-the-wall and fun, Woodford can do it for you, all with a nice premium feel.
5. Jack Daniel’s
So, Tennessee whiskey rather than bourbon, but nonetheless, Jack Daniel’s is huge, if not the biggest distillery in America. When it comes to Jack Daniel’s and its expansion into different territories, whether that’s beer, liqueurs, RTDs, or other lifestyle parts of the brand, it doesn’t take away from the fact that the core range contains some of the finest bottles of whiskey on the planet.
I don’t love all of them, but when you’re talking about Old No. 7, Single Barrel and its alternatives, plus the rye whiskeys, there is a lot to admire. Then there are limited-edition releases that are actually different, such as the Sinatra releases, which have always had my attention. I’m not even a huge Frank Sinatra fan, but the whiskey they named after him was pretty excellent.
Much like Woodford, its Kentucky cousin, Jack can do it all. If you want mass availability and access, there is Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, Single Barrel, Tennessee Honey, and more. It’s all there. As soon as the brand went a little more premium and a little more geeky with barrel-proof releases and things like Sinatra, it really cut a new path for itself.
4. Four Roses
I guess you could think of Four Roses as more of a blending house. Yes, of course, it’s a distillery, but with two different mash bills and five different yeast strains, it has the ability to create ten very different styles of bourbon.
That allowance for experimentation, as well as consistency across the range of Yellow Label, Small Batch, Single Barrel, and everything else, gives Four Roses so much scope for distinct styles and different points of flavor. I love the brand for that.
The Single Barrel is a bottle I must have sold hundreds of by the time I left retail. It’s such an amazing-quality product, and each one is always a little different, but excellent.
Their limited-release bottles used to be unicorn-level hard to find. That is slightly less the case now as the flipper market has started to fall away, but they are still highly sought after for a reason.
3. Maker’s Mark
The history of modern wheated bourbon, all distilled down into a beautiful bottle with a red wax top. Maker’s Mark is a distillery that has been close to my heart for a long time.
After visiting the place in 2019 and helping to create some of their Private Select casks for the UK market, the distillery left a lasting impression on me. It’s a bottle of bourbon with such a distinct smell in a category where the regulations are strict. The aroma of cocoa, coffee, creamed corn, candied orange peel, and gentle earthy notes makes for such a distinct whiskey.
I drink Maker’s 46 more than most, and their core bottle is such a welcome sight whenever I visit any bar in the world. Their more premium releases, such as Private Select and Cellar Aged, have allowed us to experience customized whiskey that is accessible, depending on where you are. Cellar Aged was a welcome opportunity to try their oldest released stocks to date, and the 2023 release is still my favorite.
Maker’s Mark has incredible history, consistency, core beliefs, and a distinct style. Only in the last decade has it really started to push boundaries in an interesting and affordable way for consumers.
2. Buffalo Trace
Here it is, the bourbon-soaked elephant in the room. No, not really. At the core of it all, Buffalo Trace makes amazing whiskeys across the board from its four mash bills. The demand is where things start to get annoying.
I’m a die-hard Weller fan and always will be, but I drink it more slowly these days because it’s harder to source. Let’s all recite a list of brands that Buffalo Trace produces: Buffalo Trace, Benchmark, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, Stagg, Blanton’s, Elmer T. Lee, W.L. Weller, Pappy Van Winkle, Sazerac, Thomas H. Handy, Ancient Age, Hancock’s Presidential Reserve, Rock Hill Farms, and technically the Bowman whiskeys, too.
That is an insanely impressive list of brands that the distillery has accrued over the years. All of them, at some point, become so popular and awarded that demand goes through the roof. Even with that, the liquids themselves at MSRP are fantastic, and that is undeniable.
Then you’ve got the history of the distillery and the discovery of older distilling facilities from O.F.C. on its grounds. The place is a literal treasure trove of history, production, legend, and style. A fully deserved silver medal on this list, but a gold medal from so many other people.
1. Wild Turkey
Some of you may not have seen this coming. Those of you who have read what I’ve written about whiskey over the years will know of my love for all things Wild Turkey.
Straight out of the gate, I’ll state that I’m not a fan of their rye whiskeys, but they do everything else extremely well. My first sip of Wild Turkey was from a bottle of 81 that was given to me as a Christmas gift from an ex-girlfriend. I’d heard of the brand, but had no idea what it tasted like.
My train home from Nottingham to Manchester was delayed on Christmas Eve. When I rolled back into Manchester, it was -3 degrees Celsius, the wind and rain were whipping me senseless, and what came to my rescue? A few sips of Wild Turkey 81 on the way back. I could’ve got a bus or a taxi, but I didn’t want to.
From that point, we hit the 101 release. Not only, in my view, the greatest-value bottle of any whiskey on the planet, but something I always end up coming back to. Then you’ve got Rare Breed, the Russell’s range, the Master’s Keep collection, and so many other things that I’ve never even got my hands on.
Wild Turkey, from my vantage point, has never been a brand to take advantage of a rise in crazy bourbon releases. It has never released something really old and rare just to sell to high-end clients. It has never got rid of legacy bottles for the sake of a restructure or realignment because a marketing team told it to.
I adore the style, values, whiskeys, and the people themselves. Despite being owned by a large company, Wild Turkey feels independent, and I would love it to be that again at some point.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve not tried all of these whiskeys from these distilleries, then please dive in. American whiskey, no matter what form it takes, can often be stumbled upon rather than properly explored.
I’ve explored it, and its history, stories, liquids, and people are remarkable in what they’ve achieved and where they’ve come from. I know everyone isn’t going to agree with the order of my lineup, but it’s all attached to professional and personal experience.
Read the full article at Every Major American Whiskey Brand Ranked, From Someone Who’s Sold Thousands
