What’s the best Kentucky Straight Bourbon? It depends on who you ask and what you’re looking for.
Some drinkers want the best bottle under $30. Others are chasing legendary names like Pappy Van Winkle. For many, it’s about value, strength, or a unique cask finish.
To help cut through the noise, we’ve pulled together expert-backed picks across six categories. These are bourbons praised by critics, awarded at top competitions, and recommended by those who know bourbon best.
Whether you’re just getting started or already deep into your bourbon journey, these are bottles worth knowing.
Best Bourbon Under $30: Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Woodford Reserve is one of the best everyday bourbons you can buy. Made by Brown‑Forman in Kentucky, it blends column and pot still distillate and uses a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley.
It’s smooth, balanced, and bottled at 90.4 proof. In a review on The Whiskey Wash, Phil Dwyer called it “an amazing house bottle” and praised its flavors of coconut, mango, cardamom, honey, cherry, and milk chocolate.
At around $27, it’s a standout value that’s as good in cocktails as it is neat.
Best Bourbon Under $45: Four Roses Single Barrel (OBSV)
Four Roses Single Barrel is a go-to recommendation for anyone who wants high-quality bourbon without spending a fortune. It’s bottled at 100 proof and uses the distillery’s OBSV recipe (60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley) with a yeast strain that highlights delicate fruit notes.
That high rye content gives it spice and brightness, while the single barrel format keeps things interesting from bottle to bottle.
In his review, Phil Dwyer called it “a truly outrageous bottle of bourbon that should be on everyone’s shelf.” He praised its fruit, chocolate, caramel, and toasted oak, and described the finish as “decadent and fizzy.”
At around $40–$45, this is a bourbon that overdelivers in every way.
Best Finished Bourbon: Angel’s Envy Port Finish
Angel’s Envy helped popularize the idea of finishing bourbon in wine casks. This one starts as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, then spends a few extra months in ruby port barrels. The result is a fruitier, softer, and slightly richer take on classic bourbon.
It’s bottled at 86.6 proof. The mash bill isn’t disclosed, but the finishing process is what sets it apart. Each small batch is blended by hand, usually from 8 to 12 barrels.
This bourbon has won multiple awards, including a Gold Medal at the Bartender Spirits Awards in 2023.
Expect notes of vanilla, raisin, fig, maple, and baking spice.
As Beth Squires put it in her recent review: “Angel’s Envy Port Wine Cask Finish is one of the first bourbons I fell in love with, and I am very glad to have revisited it. Perfect to keep on your bar for a social occasion, or a late-night dram.”
Best Cask Strength Bourbon: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch B524)
For fans of big flavor and high proof, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is hard to beat. Each batch is uncut and unfiltered, aged for at least 12 years, and bottled straight from the barrel.
Batch B524 was a standout. It came in at 130.6 proof and aged for 11 years and 2 months.
In our coverage, Nino described it as “exceptionally well-balanced and noteworthy,” adding that “it is an instant classic in the series”.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases are limited, but not impossible to find. At around $75 MSRP (if you can find it), they’re also excellent value if you enjoy bourbon with intensity and complexity.
Best High-Age Splurge: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition
This special release from Heaven Hill marked 25 years since the distillery acquired the Old Fitzgerald brand. It’s a 13-year-old, bottled-in-bond wheated bourbon, presented in the signature Old Fitz decanter and bottled at 100 proof.
The whiskey was distilled in 2010 and bottled in 2023. It uses Heaven Hill’s wheated mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley.
This bottle was named Best Bourbon and Whiskey of the Year at the inaugural Whiskey Wash Awards earlier this year. Nino Kilgore-Marchetti, who wrote the original review, called this bourbon “one of the most amazing whiskeys I’ve had the pleasure of trying over the years. Easily top five of all time.”
It also earned the title of World’s Best Bourbon at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards.
At an MSRP of $229.99, it’s a serious splurge, but one backed by both critics and awards.
Best Unicorn Bourbon: Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year Old
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old is one of the most iconic bourbons ever made. It’s rare, heavily allocated, and often resells for thousands. But beyond the hype, it’s also a genuinely exceptional whiskey.
Distilled at Buffalo Trace, it uses a wheated mash bill. That softer grain profile helps balance the long 20-year aging process. It’s bottled at 90.4 proof.
In her review, Margarett Waterbury noted aromas of butterscotch, chocolate-covered cherries, and plum jam. She added, “I can’t think of anything else to say about this release except that it’s about as close to perfect as anything ever gets.”
It’s not easy to find, and it’s definitely not cheap. But if you ever get the chance to try it, it lives up to the reputation. This is bourbon at its most refined. Chances to sample bourbon like this do not come around often.
Your “Best” Bourbon
There’s no single “best” bourbon for everyone. It depends on your taste, your budget, and what you’re in the mood for.
But these six bottles represent some of the best options available today. They’ve been praised by critics, awarded by judges, and enjoyed by bourbon drinkers around the world.
From a $27 classic to a once-in-a-lifetime unicorn, each one offers something special. Whether you’re new to bourbon or deep into collecting, these are bottles worth knowing and chasing.
Do you have a favorite bourbon that isn’t mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.
Read the full article at The Best Kentucky Straight Bourbons According To Experts
