12 Best Bourbons For A Manhattan

12 Best Bourbons For A Manhattan

The Manhattan cocktail, known for its perfect balance of booziness, sweetness, and bitterness, is a versatile drink that lends itself well to experimentation. While the classic recipe uses rye whiskey, exploring different whiskey varieties can provide unique and refreshing twists to this timeless cocktail, offering a fresh experience even after more than a century since its inception. Shop bourbons now!

Blanton's The Original Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Blanton's Original Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey maintains its tradition by aging in Warehouse H, just as it did over 50 years ago. Each bottle is sourced from a single barrel, carefully hand-selected based on its unique flavor profile. With a nose of apple, cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel, this bourbon offers a sweet palate with hints of peaches, pears, and dried apricots. Finishing with notes of cinnamon, baking spices, maple syrup, and molasses, Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon has earned numerous accolades, including the Chairman's Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Jim Murray's Whisky Bible has even dubbed it "liquid gold." Buy it now!

Maker's 46 Bourbon Whisky

Maker's Mark 46 offers a compelling twist on the classic Maker's Mark bourbon, making it an excellent choice for elevating cocktails like the whiskey sour. Aged longer than the standard expression and infused with specially seared French oak staves, Maker's Mark 46 boasts a smoother profile with enhanced barrel character, along with prominent notes of vanilla and baking spice from the staves. What sets Maker's Mark apart is its unique mash bill, which includes red winter wheat instead of rye grain, resulting in a creamy mouthfeel that perfectly complements cocktails featuring egg white for a velvety texture. Launched in 2010 as the first new expression from Maker's Mark in over half a century, Maker's Mark 46 has quickly become a favorite among whiskey enthusiasts and cocktail aficionados alike, adding depth and complexity to any libation it graces. Buy now for $41.99.

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace bourbon stands out as an ideal choice for crafting a classic whiskey sour. With its rich history and well-balanced flavor profile, characterized by sweet caramel, molasses, and vanilla notes, Buffalo Trace provides a perfect canvas for the cocktail's citrusy elements to shine. Its nuanced hints of dark fruits and oak add depth to the drink, complementing the lighter flavors. While not explicitly listed in the recipe, a few dashes of Angostura bitters can enhance the cocktail's complexity by harmonizing its sweet, tart, and spicy components. However, given the fluctuating price of Buffalo Trace, it's wise to consider its affordability, especially if you plan to use it frequently in cocktails. Buy it now for $28.99.

W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

W.L. Weller Special Reserve, known for its exceptionally smooth taste, substitutes wheat for rye grain, resulting in a distinct burnt orange color. Bottled at 90 proof, its softer flavor notes make it ideal for sipping or crafting cocktails. This special bourbon garnered accolades including a Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Silver Medal at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards. Buy it now!

Woodford Reserve Bourbon

Woodford Reserve stands out among classic bourbons for its rich and complex flavor profile, making it a versatile choice for cocktails. While it shares the sweet characteristics of other bourbons like Buffalo Trace and Elijah Craig, Woodford Reserve boasts deeper, more indulgent notes of dried fruit, toffee, and dark chocolate. Additionally, it offers a unique balance of leathery, tobacco-spice undertones alongside complex citrus flavors of oranges and lemon. While it excels in cocktails like the Old Fashioned, Woodford Reserve also lends itself to creative twists like the New York Sour, where its mature flavors harmonize beautifully with dry red wine. By selecting a wine that complements either the sweet and fruity or leathery, spicy notes of the bourbon, you can tailor the cocktail to your taste preferences and create a truly memorable drinking experience. Buy it now for $33.99.

Michter's US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This Michter’s Bourbon is crafted from a meticulously chosen mashbill showcasing top-tier American corn, Michter's US1 Bourbon undergoes a maturation process that extends beyond eight years, reaching optimal perfection. This genuinely small-batch bourbon is meticulously curated, usually consisting of no more than two dozen barrels per batch, eliminating the possibility of blending imperfections and demanding excellence from each barrel. Embodying the essence of Kentucky's Bluegrass State, Michter's US1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon offers a nuanced, mellow, and earthy profile, capturing the true spirit of its origin. Buy it now for $55.99.

Angel's Envy Bourbon

Thai bottle of Angel’s Envy takes pride in its meticulous craftsmanship, producing bourbon in small, artfully curated batches. With a commitment to excellence, only eight to twelve barrels are selected at a time for blending, ensuring a precise flavor profile. Each barrel undergoes a thorough tasting process, guaranteeing that only the finest spirits contribute to the final product. What sets Angel's Envy apart is its unique finishing process; after the initial maturation, the bourbon undergoes a finishing touch in ruby port casks sourced from Spain. This distinctive step adds an extra layer of complexity to the flavor profile. Throughout this entire journey, every detail is carefully overseen by the Master Distiller, Lincoln Henderson, reflecting the brand's dedication to achieving unparalleled quality and taste in every bottle. Buy it now for $45.99.

Four Roses Small Batch

The Four Roses perfects the marrying art of mingling multiple Bourbon recipes, our Master Distiller has expertly selected four original and limited Bourbons at the pinnacle of maturation. The result is a perfectly balanced small batch Bourbon that unveils a mellow symphony of rich, spicy flavors complemented by sweet, fruity aromas and nuanced notes of sweet oak and caramel. The finish is soft, smooth, and pleasantly long-lasting. Best enjoyed straight up, on the rocks, or with a splash, this exceptional Bourbon boasts a proof of 90 and an alcohol/volume of 45%. Buy it now for $39.99.

Elijah Craig Bourbon Small Batch

The Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon stands out as a remarkable value, offering an exceptional experience for bourbon enthusiasts. The inviting bouquet opens with delightful aromas of honey, sweet corn, vanilla, and brown sugar, setting the stage for what unfolds on the equally luscious palate. This bourbon strikes a perfect balance, combining boldness with smoothness, as flavors of honey, vanilla, and molasses take center stage, complemented by a subtle dry oakiness. Whether savored neat or with a touch of water, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon delivers a memorable and satisfying drinking experience. Buy it now for $22.99.

Bulleit Bourbon

The Bulleit Bourbon  is crafted from the identical high-rye mash bill used in the original expression. The chosen barrels are blended into a single batch and bottled at Stitzel-Weller in Louisville, Kentucky. Staying true to its name, this iteration is presented uncut and unfiltered, directly from the barrel. Notably, each batch exhibits a unique alcohol by volume (ABV), fluctuating between 118 and 125 proof. Buy it now for $39.99.

Basil Hayden's Bourbon

The origins of Basil Hayden's Bourbon harken back to 1796, a time when Basil Hayden, a master distiller, crafted the recipe. Having been raised in Maryland, where he honed the art of whiskey-making with rye, Hayden's journey to Kentucky saw him adapting his skills to create a distinctive bourbon. Departing from the norm, Hayden incorporated a higher proportion of rye in his bourbon, originally derived from a corn base. The result was a uniquely smooth and mild bourbon that bore the unmistakable imprint of his craft. Buy it now for $49.99.

Knob Creek Small Batch Bourbon

This bottle of Jim Beam's Small Batch Bourbon is a testament to the artistry of aging, having matured in flash-fired white oak barrels. The intense charring process imparts a layer of red caramelized wood, contributing to the deep amber hue and sweet flavor of this 100-proof whiskey. With a moderately full-bodied profile, the palate is graced by notes of marmalade, honey, and maple. It exhibits a rounded and fragrant character, with ample fruitiness harmonizing with rich woody elements. The finish is long, smooth, sweet, and undeniably delicious. Buy it now for $39.99.