The Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon Under $50

Like all Old Forester Bourbon, this Single Barrel version is made from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. Each bottle of Old Forester Single Barrel comes from one individual barrel. These hand-selected barrels are managed by Master Taster Jackie Zykan. Each single barrel can yield between 200-240 bottles per barrel depending on the age and the angel's share. Bottled at 90 proof. Note: As of January 2020, the 90 proof version has been discontinued and replaced with 100 proof and Barrel Strength versions.

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon is made with the same mash bill as the brand's standard bourbon release: 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. These single barrel releases are selected by retailers or on-premise locations. Each single barrel bottling is aged for 4 years in 53-gallon new, charred American oak barrels. Additionally, they are bottled at barrel proof without chill-filtration so expect to see variances in both flavor and proof with each barrel.

One of the early players in the premium bourbon space with their Small Batch collection, Jim Beam Single Barrel gives classic Jim Beam the specialty twist. Being a single barrel bottling, it might vary slightly from one batch to the next. It is bottled at 95 proof to commemorate the first barrel of Jim Beam made in 1795.

1792 Single Barrel Bourbon is the third limited edition bottling released by the brand. Select barrels of this high-rye straight Kentucky bourbon are chosen from the brand's Bardstown, Kentucky rickhouses.

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon is made with the classic Wild Turkey mash bill -- 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. It matures in heavy "alligator" char new American oak barrels and is hand-selected by Master Distillers Jimmy and Eddie Russell. Each honey barrel is then bottled at a hearty 110 proof without chill-filtration in order to preserve maximum flavor.

As the name suggests, each bottle of Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is made from an unblended, hand-selected barrel. The bourbon is aged in a rickhouse in Clermont, Kentucky for at least 9 years. However, unlike the standard small batch version, it is bottled at 120 proof instead of 100 proof. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve may vary from bottle to bottle as is the nature of the category.

Since 1983, the master distiller for Heaven Hill has chosen select barrels for this single barrel series. Each bottle is dated with the vintage date of when the bourbon was distilled along with the year it was bottled. Additionally, each bottle bares a serial number of the barrel from which it was drawn. Bottled at 86.6 proof.

Four Roses Single Barrel is bottled at 50% ABV and is comprised of their OBSV recipe (Four Roses has 10 different recipes). It's a Kentucky straight bourbon made using a high-rye mash bill (60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley) and uses their delicate fruit yeast strain. Each batch will vary slightly as is to be expected from single-barrel bottlings.