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10 Best Bourbons Under $100

Published on May 25, 2017 at 4:39 pm


by ALEXANDR OLEINIC in Lists,News
What are the 10 best bourbons under $100? One of the best things that comes
from liking bourbon is that it’s cheaper than alternatives, like scotch, at least in the
U.S. There are several reasons for that. Scotch has a greater global reputation,
which results in a higher price. In addition, bourbon doesn’t require a long aging
process, because it’s usually made in a climate with more extreme temperature
differences and is aged in new charred oak barrels, which reduce aging costs.
So, one of bourbon’s main advantages compared to other types of whiskey is the
price. You can get a pretty decent single-barrel, small-batch bourbon under $50
(don’t miss our list chronicling the Best Bourbon For The Money: 10
Best Bourbons Under $50) and you can even spend less than $30 for a bottle of
a smooth long-aged (10-12 years) bourbon (see our list of the 11 Best Cheap
BourbonsUnder $30 for proof). So, $100 can go a long way. Even though it might
seem expensive, everyone who likes bourbon should try one of these at least once
in their lives. It also goes without saying that a bottle of premium bourbon would
make a great gift for someone, like your boss.

Before we get to the list of the best


bourbons under $100, we should
explain what bourbon is and what
factors justify its high price-tag.
Bourbon is a type of whiskey, so it’s an
across-the-pond relative of scotch.
However, in the U.S there are many
types of whiskeys, like corn whiskey
(made from mash containing at least 80% corn), and rye whiskey (mash contains
at least 51% rye). Bourbon is made from mash that contains at least 51% corn and
it usually comes from Southern States, in particular Kentucky. The only exception
is Tennessee, which developed its own type of whiskey: Tennessee whiskey,
which tastes similar to bourbon, though the production process differs through
something called the Lincoln County Process, which involves filtering the drink
through charcoal before putting it in barrels.

So, what makes a good bourbon worth the high price? First of all, you should check
out the distillery and the brand owned by it. Older and better-known distilleries like
Buffalo Trace, Wild Turkey and Bulleit are more likely to have an experienced
distiller and they usually use high-quality ingredients to satisfy their customers.
Then you should check out the age. An expensive bourbon should be aged from
10 to 20 years. Also, a premium bourbon will often be labeled “single barrel”, which
means that each bottle will have some distinctive notes specific to the barrel it
came from. Finally, some types of premium bourbon come from small-batches,
and while this makes them more desirable, it may also be difficult to find them in
stores.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at our list of the 10 best bourbons under $100.
While the bottles presented here will provide a unique experience of flavor and
taste, you might also want to check out other, less expensive bourbons made by
the same brands and distilleries, because even at a lower price they usually
provide a decent drink.
10. Willett Pot Still Reserve

Price: $35

The bottle housing Willet Distillery’s Willett Pot Still Reserve has a nice shape (like
a decanter or a pot still), so only for its look it deserves a place on a shelf. However,
the taste doesn’t disappoint either. The bourbon has a slightly sweet honey and
caramel taste with hints of vanilla and oak. Bottled at 94 proof, Willett Pot Still
Reserve is perfect to be enjoyed neat or with some ice.
9. Elijah Craig Small Batch

Price: $36

Elijah Craig Small Batch is sourced in small batches of bourbon aged between
eight and 12 years. The bourbon is a successor to Heaven Hill Distillery’s 12-year
bourbon that had been around from 1986 until 2016. However, the company
pointed out that its stock of 12-year-old barrels had been under pressure as the
demand had gone up, which is why they removed the 12-year-old statement. The
bourbon has a sweet aroma with hints of oak and leather and a taste with a slight
spiciness and oak. It’s not very complex, but paying less than $40 for a bottle of
well-aged bourbon is worth it.

gueriero93/Shutterstock.com
8. Four Roses Single Barrel

Price: $40

We are continuing our list of best bourbons under $100 with Single Barrel bourbon
that is considered among the best and Four Roses Single Barrel can provide the
best bang for the buck at around $40. The bourbon is made from mash containing
35% rye, which gives it some spiciness. Made by Kirin Brewery Company-owned
Four Roses Distillery, the bourbon is bottled at 100 proof and has a complex
bouquet of flavors. Aside from spiciness, the palate also has notes of honey
peaches and oak.
7. Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey

Price: $40

Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey is unique in several ways when compared to other
bourbons. First of all, it’s made from 100% corn (remember, bourbon has to be
made from at least 51% corn), so it’s sweeter than others. Also, it’s not made in
Southern States, but comes from New York, where it is bottled by Tuthilltown
Spirits in Gardner. It’s also aged in smaller barrels, which results in more surface
to liquid contact. In the end you get a smooth and sweet bourbon, which may not
be to everyone’s taste, but it’s definitely worth trying because of its uniqueness.
6. Eagle Rare 10-Year

Price: $41

Another well-aged bourbon that is a great bargain, Eagle Rare 10 Year Old comes
from the Buffalo Trace distillery, which is one of the oldest in the U.S and is
currently owned by the Sazerac Company. The bourbon greets you with aromas
of toasted oak and orange peel and has a palate dominated by honey, walnuts and
bread.

5. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Price: $60

Among affordable premium bourbons, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, the number
5 on our list of best bourbons under $100 is one of the rarest. It is released in small
batches every year only on September 2, to celebrate the birthday of Brown-
Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF.B), so every release is unique in its own way. The
2016 release marked the 15th anniversary of the Old Forester Birthday and the
company went big to celebrate, releasing a 12-year-old bourbon and it marked the
first time that Chris Morris (who selects the bourbon by himself every year) worked
with bourbon specialist Jackie Zykan. They released only about 14,400 bottles last
year, so if you can’t find it in stores, you might have to wait until this year’s release
and get in line early, for this is one of the best bourbons under $100.

4. Barrell Bourbon 007

Price: $80

Barrell, one of the best bourbons under $100, hasn’t been around for too long,
operating since 2013. However, the company doesn’t distill the bourbon itself, but
rather finds interesting barrels and then bottles them at cask strength. Its 007 batch
is bottled at 122.4 proof
after an aging period of five
years. It has a sharp taste
with citrusy hints and a
nose of butter and brown
sugar.
3. Parker’s Heritage: Promise of Hope

Price: $90

Parker’s Heritage comes from Heaven Hill Distillery. The name is not chosen
arbitrarily, as the company donates $20 from the sale of every bottle to the Parker
Beam Promise of Hope Fund. The bourbon is aged for ten years, but the Parker’s
Heritage name can also be found among high-end bourbons. The company sells
a 27-year-old small-batch bourbon that goes for over $3,100 per bottle. The
cheaper version should also be good, as it is described as having a complex palate
with many flavors, including caramelized sugar, apples, honey, and maple syrup.

2. Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea

Price: $90

Jefferson’s Bourbon is another company that has no distillery and buys bourbon
from other distillers, following which it either blends it, or uses some interesting
aging techniques. The Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea that ranks second on our
list of best bourbons under $100 is a unique bourbon because it is aged
traditionally for six-to-eight years, after which each barrel is put on a ship to finish
its aging process at sea for another six-to-ten months (each batch that goes
through this process is called voyage). The idea is that being rocked by waves
makes the bourbon contact better with the barrel, which results in a deeper flavor.
The one problem with this bourbon (aside from its rareness) is that it’s still sourced
bourbon, so every batch will be different and depend a lot on the mash and the
distillery where it’s made.

1. George T. Stagg

Price: $100

George T. Stagg is one of the best bourbons made by Buffalo Trace, as part of its
Antique Collection. The bourbon is aged for approximately 15 years and is bottled
at 144.1 proof uncut and unfiltered. This gives it a thick aroma with strong notes of
caramel, dark fruit and spice, and a woody palate with hints of honey and cherries.
It can also be pretty rare, as the company usually releases it only once or twice a
year.
These are the 10 best bourbons under $100. The bottles in this list were selected
based on either some unique factor that separates them from the rest of the crowd,
or due to their popularity and acclaim. Many of the brands included in the list,
like George T. Stagg, Parker’s Heritage, and Jefferson’s also have bottles for the
high-end market that are sold at hundreds and thousands of dollars, so it may be
worth it to try their cheaper peers.

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