Best Bourbon for Beginners

Released by Heaven Hill, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon (~200 barrels per batch) is comprised of selected bourbon whiskeys 8-12 years of age. This no-age statement product was introduced in early 2016 to replace the brand's 12-year bourbon bottling. Barrels charred to a level 3 are used in its production and it's bottled at 94 proof.

The Bulleit label, revived by Tom Bulleit, was first produced for friends and family by Augustus Bulleit in the early 1800s. While Augustus never sold his product, Tom (working with Four Roses) first started producing his version of this "Frontier Whiskey" around 1987. With a mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley, this is a high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon. Bottled at 90 proof.

Basil Hayden is one of the four Kentucky straight bourbons in the Beam Small Batch Collection along with Booker's, Baker's, and Knob Creek. Although Basil Hayden, Sr. is not featured on his namesake bottle, his likeness is on every bottle of Old Grand-Dad. It is his high rye bourbon mash bill recipe that is featured in this bottling and it's the lowest proof of the Collection coming in at just 80 proof. Note: As of 2021, the brand was renamed from Basil Hayden's to Basil Hayden for the entire portfolio. The bourbon recipe itself has not changed.

Larceny Small Batch is a brand extension of Heaven Hill's Old Fitzgerald line. According to their story, back in the day, John E. Fitzgerald used his privilege of holding the keys to Pappy Van Winkle's bonded warehouse, where the Old Fitzgerald bourbons were kept, to steal the best casks for himself. These became known as the "Fitzgerald Barrels." Larceny is a wheated straight bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. It bears no-age statement and is bottled at 92 proof. Note: Packaging update in summer 2024 to feature the key and keyhole as well as the wheated bourbon mash bill.

This is a Kentucky straight bourbon and is the entry-level bourbon for the brand. Four Roses has two separate mash bills they can use for their bourbons. One is labeled recipe "B" and is 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. The other is recipe "E" and is 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. Additionally, Four Roses uses up to five different yeast strains for their bourbons. All are used here. Over time, the Yellow Label bottle has changed with the label losing the yellow color. Beginning in spring 2018, the name for this product is simply "Four Roses Bourbon".

The Old Forester brand was introduced in 1870 by George Garvin Brown and named for Dr. William Forrester, a customer of Brown's (the second "r" was later dropped). This Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. This 86-proof bourbon is the brand's entry level product.

The former George T. Stagg Distillery was renamed Buffalo Trace when Sazerac took over ownership in 1999. Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee came out of retirement for the creation of Buffalo Trace Bourbon which was released later that same year. This is the flagship bourbon from the distillery and is comprised of a low-rye traditional mash bill. It is bottled without an age statement at 90 proof.

Maker's Mark Bourbon is a wheated bourbon made with a mash bill recipe of 70% locally-grown corn, 16% red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley. This recipe was created by Bill Samuels, Sr. who baked bread with different grains to settle on his mash bill rather than trial and error with distillation. His wife, Margie Samuels, is responsible for the shape of the bottle, the signature label, and the red wax topper. Maker's Mark is aged in char #3 new American oak barrels for 6-7 years. It is bottled at 90 proof.

Wild Turkey is known to barrel its whiskey at a lower entry-proof, meaning the product is a lower proof as it comes off the still prior to maturing. That lower entry proof lends to more flavor from the mash bill (corn, rye, and malted barley). Wild Turkey Bourbon 101 is pulled from the barrel at 109 proof before being proofed down only a touch.

Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon was first released in 1992 as part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. It also had a 9 year age statement. But in 2016 the brand removed the age statement while still aiming to achieve the 9 year flavor profile. As of April 2020, the 9 year age statement has returned. The bourbon is still bottled at 100 proof.