As a fan of bourbon, researching the best value bourbons in 2025 gave me quite a surprise! When we talk about good value, we expect to see some smaller brands making waves within a category. When it comes to bourbon, the big companies still dominate – but not for bad reasons. I was amazed to find that, no matter where you buy them, these bourbons remain remarkably affordable in their biggest markets.

This list isn’t the most exciting—it won’t send you rushing to the nearest liquor store in search of a hidden gem. Instead, it serves as a reminder of where quality and value still thrive. Whether from big producers or smaller brands, these bourbons are so well-crafted that they’re genuinely hard to beat. While batch variations will always exist, the bourbons below consistently offer some of the best value on the market.

Maker’s No.46 French Oak Bourbon

BUY NOW: $34

As a wheated bourbon obsessive, leaving Maker’s Mark off this list would have been a crime—at least in my eyes.

This is a brand that was once considered expensive when it first hit shelves decades ago, yet it continues to make waves in the bourbon world with experimental releases and older expressions. I do love the standard bottling, but I’ve owned so many bottles of Maker’s 46 over the years that it might as well be a household ornament.

Finished in casks with French oak staves floating in the liquid, bottled at a slightly higher strength of 47%, and still featuring that classic red wax seal—Maker’s 46 is an incredible year-round pour. With notes of coffee, milk chocolate, cinnamon, baked green apples, caramel, spicy oak, and crème brûlée, this bourbon delivers outstanding value in terms of flavor, presentation, and history.

Four Roses Single Barrel

BUY NOW: $42

This is the best single barrel release on the market—whether bourbon, scotch, Irish whiskey, or anything else. Four Roses Single Barrel is an absolute must-have for your bar.

Bottled at 50% ABV and crafted by a distillery known for producing rich, buttery whiskey, Four Roses maintains an impressively consistent profile, even across its single barrel releases. Expect notes of melted butter, brown butter, cherries, raisins, milk chocolate, and a warming spice from the higher ABV—all at an outstanding price compared to other single barrel offerings.

I don’t mean this as a slight, but many Four Roses Single Barrel releases outperform a lot of store picks and other single barrel selections. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should—it’s not hard to find.

This bourbon is made using the OBSV recipe. You can find out all about how Four Roses’ 10 different recipes create different profiles here.

Wild Turkey 101

BUY NOW: $22

The bottle that made me fall in love with bourbon—a classic that remains easy to find, drink, and enjoy. Wild Turkey 101 is a true gem in an era of rising prices and shifting trends.

With a bold 50.5% ABV and a robust, versatile mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, this is arguably the best pound-for-pound standard bottle of whiskey across countless categories.

It’s fantastic neat, one of the few whiskies I genuinely enjoy over ice, and it makes an outstanding Old Fashioned. It also works as a great substitute in countless other cocktails.

I love this stuff from Wild Turkey, and it’s hard not to put it on a pedestal for its consistency in every aspect that matters. It’s such a household name in bourbon that it deserves far more praise than it gets.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

BUY NOW: $39

Now it’s time to step into the world of indulgence. If you love your drinks to taste and smell like a boozy dessert trolley, there’s no better choice than Woodford Reserve Double Oak.

I still remember when this first launched—and that unforgettable aroma. Sticky toffee, pineapple, deep caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream, and Barbados rum—it’s a decadently rich offering from the folks at Woodford.

By toasting additional casks and finishing the standard liquid in them, they’ve created an incredibly deep, rich bourbon with a sherried character. I buy one bottle a year, and it almost always ends up converting someone who isn’t a bourbon fan. Whether neat or in a cocktail, that’s all it takes—they’re hooked.

A boozy dessert trolley in a bottle. There’s no better way to put it. Plus, at around $40, this Woodford Reserve is one of the best value bourbons you can buy.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintages

BUY NOW: $32

This is a bourbon that firmly belongs in the value bourbon category, yet it’s often overlooked.

Evan Williams produces a vast range of bourbons, whiskeys, and ryes, making it easy to get lost in their lineup. But in my opinion, this is the best of them—and an incredible value. With rich notes of honey, vanilla pod, and gentle oak, you can pick up a single barrel vintage bourbon for under $40 in the U.S. and just under £50 in the UK.

The only downside? It seems to be available exclusively in Kentucky now—apologies to the rest of the U.S. Fortunately, it’s still easy to find from numerous UK retailers. If you haven’t come across it yet, you should. It offers a unique and underrated style from one of the industry’s biggest distilleries.

Read the full article at The Best Value Bourbons In 2025