The Best Bourbon for Kentucky Mules

Upgrade your Moscow Mule with bourbon for a Kentucky Mule! Here are our bourbon picks for an elevated cocktail!
Jan 30, 2018
  • 10
    84
    Spicy & Smoky
    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.
  • 9
    92
    Rich & Full Bodied
    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.
  • 8
    86
    Sweet & Rich
    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.
  • 7
    86
    Spicy
    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.
  • 6
    87
    Spicy & Vanilla
    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.
  • 5
    88
    Floral
    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.
  • 4
    85
    Sweet
    This small batch bottling (200 barrels per batch) is comprised of selected whiskeys 8-12 years of age. This no-age statement product was introduced in early 2016 to replace the 12-year age statement (a barrel illustration on the original label took place of the number 12). Later in the year, Heaven Hill redesigned its packaging again, with the year "1789" now embossed on the glass. It remains bottled at 94 proof.
  • 3
    90
    Sweet & Rich
    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.
  • 2
    87
    Vanilla & Sweet
    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.
  • 1
    92
    Fruity & Sweet
    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.