The Best Bourbon for Kentucky Mules

This Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Beam was formerly known as Jim Beam Double Aged. This no-age statement bourbon replaces the Black Label 8 Year. It is aged longer than Jim Beam Original, also known as Jim Beam White Label. That bottling is aged at least four years in new, charred American oak. Black Label Extra-Aged is bottled at 43% ABV.

Distilled at its namesake Woodford Reserve Distillery located in Versailles, Ky. (formerly called Labrot & Graham Distillery), this Kentucky straight bourbon was first introduced in 1996. It is also known as "Distiller's Select". This high-rye bourbon has a mash bill containing 18% rye. It is made from a combination of pot still and column still whiskey. The bourbon is aged between 6-7 years and carries no age statement. Bottled at 45.2% ABV.

This Kentucky straight small batch bourbon from Michter's is truly a "small batch" having been made from a maximum of 20 barrels. The whiskey enters the barrel at 103 proof (industry standard is 125 proof). It’s then aged in toasted and charred barrels and bottled at 91.4 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.

Hirsch Selection whiskeys are independent bottlings of sourced whiskeys from undisclosed producers and bottled by Hirsch Distillers. This straight Kentucky bourbon was bottled in Bardstown and is 92 proof.

Don't let the bottle take over the conversation, the juice in this bottle stands up to and deserves the fancy packaging. It may be a little difficult to pour, but you will be well rewarded with what you get in the glass. A small batch bourbon that should be consumed neat or with a few rocks.

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.

Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Straight Rye is matured in the deepest no. 4 char barrels. Aged for six years in the “center cut” of the rickhouse. It is hand-selected by Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Bottled at 45% ABV.

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.

Four Roses Small Batch is a straight bourbon that is comprised of 4 of the 10 recipes Four Roses employs. They use an equal measure of both of their mash bills (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% barley and 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley). They also use yeast strains which highlight both a light and spicy profile along with a rich and fruity one. It is bottled at 45% ABV.