Pro Picks: Exceptional Bourbons Under $50

Pro Picks: Exceptional Bourbons Under $50

Bourbon is the quintessential American spirit, evoking images of distillery tours, afternoon cocktails on the porch, or lively gatherings—often calling for more affordable bottles. It's possible to find budget-friendly bourbons that are smooth, complex, and suitable for serving neat, with many distillers offering spirits that meet these criteria. However, with the market becoming increasingly saturated with options ranging from small batches to celebrity-backed brands, finding a wallet-friendly favorite for cocktails and more can be challenging. To help, VinePair consulted 12 bartenders for their picks of the best bourbons that won't break the bank, based on these bourbons' MSRPs or typical markups in their areas, though higher markups may be inevitable in other major cities. Here's what they said.

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.

Woodinville Bourbon

Woodinville Bourbon Whiskey is a truly small-batch bourbon, aged for over 5 years in a standard 53-gallon barrel, making it the first craft-produced bourbon to achieve this milestone. It earned the title "Craft Whiskey of the Year" at the American Distilling Institute Craft Spirits Awards in 2016. This bourbon is 100% mashed, distilled, aged, and bottled in Washington State. Buy it now!

Fort Hamilton Double Barrel

This small-batch bourbon, crafted in New York, exudes a bold and versatile attitude. Limited to just 500 bottles per batch and aged for an average of 4 years, it delivers a rich and elegant flavor profile. Buy it now!

Great Jones Bourbon

Great Jones Straight Bourbon is crafted from the finest ingredients—corn, barley, and rye grain—all grown in the rich Black Dirt of the Empire State, and aged for four years in American Oak barrels. The result is a smooth, well-balanced bourbon with a light vanilla and white pepper finish, earning its reputation as a New York classic at 86 proof. Buy it now!

Taconic Bourbon

Taconic Distillery's Barrel Strength Straight Bourbon, aged for a minimum of 5 years and bottled at 57.5% ABV (115 proof), boasts a beautiful bouquet of spice and honey with gentle notes of vanilla for a smooth finish. Rated 92.5 in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, this bourbon is celebrated for its rich and complex flavor profile. Buy it now!

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey undergoes a minimum ten-year maturation in new, American oak casks, developing a golden honey hue and enticing aromas of gentle toast, fresh tobacco, and bananas. On the palate, flavors of chocolate, almonds, melons, raisins, and dried fruits are accented by subtle vanilla undertones. The finish is enduring and robust, with lingering hints of roasted nuts and corn. Buy it now!

Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old

Handcrafted by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie, this small batch bourbon captivates with a woody, piney aromatic surface layered over dry scents of grain and resin. Initial notes of corny sweetness give way to a subtle hint of butterscotch, culminating in a full-bodied, sweet, and clean flavor profile. Recognized with a Gold Medal at the 2007 San Francisco Spirits Competition, this bourbon exemplifies excellence and craftsmanship. Buy it now!

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon

The Redwood Empire's Pipe Dream, named after the 14th tallest tree globally, stands as their inaugural Bourbon whiskey proudly crafted in California. A blend of four to twelve-year-old barrels, with a mash bill featuring 75% corn, 21% raw rye, and 4% malt barley, this bourbon boasts a deep golden hue. The nose is powerful, exuding sweet maple, vanilla, and a hint of honey. On the palate, Pipe Dream offers a rich and complex experience with notes of roasted pecan, vanilla, and a lingering interplay of char and woody nuances. Bottled at 90 proof, it finishes smoothly with a touch of black pepper, showcasing the diverse and well-balanced character of this Californian bourbon. Buy it now for $32.99.

Three Chord Blended Bourbon

Produced by Steel Bending Spirits, Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company under the leadership of Neil Giraldo, Three Chord Blended Bourbon stands as the company's inaugural product introduced to the market. Buy it now!

Cyrus Noble

Cyrus Noble Bourbon Whiskey, made from a mash of 75% corn, 17% rye, and 8% malted barley, is born in Kentucky and aged for five to six years in American white oak barrels in San Francisco. With notes of caramel, hazelnut, and toffee, each bottle embodies the spirit and character of a hand-made, intimate whiskey. In 1899, when George Dewey was promoted to Admiral of the United States Navy—the only person in U.S. history to hold that rank—he celebrated by toasting with a bottle of Cyrus Noble. Buy it now!