10 Approachable Bourbons for Whiskey Newbies

10 Approachable Bourbons for Whiskey Newbies

The world of whiskey can seem daunting to newcomers, with its reputation for strength and complexity, especially in the case of bourbon. This misconception can discourage potential enthusiasts from exploring one of the most beloved spirits. For those new to the whiskey game, here are a few bourbon bottles to kickstart your journey and wow your friends and family.

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.

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery Nelson Brother’s Classic Bourbon

Introducing the inaugural release from Nelson Brothers, Andy and Charlie, celebrated at the TAG Global Spirits Awards in the American Blended Straight Bourbon category. This exceptional bourbon offers a delightful array of tasting notes, including banana bread, cocoa, cherry, dried pineapple, black peppercorn, spearmint, lemon, sweet tobacco, spice cake, milk chocolate, vanilla, and baked apple, all available for purchase at $29.99. Crafted through blending high-rye straight bourbon aged in charred American oak, this whiskey is equally delightful neat or in cocktails. Inspired by their family's heritage, particularly their great-great-great grandfather's distillery in Tennessee, Andy and Charlie embarked on reviving Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in 2006, carrying on their family's legacy. Since its revival, the distillery has flourished, producing a range of exceptional products including bourbon, whiskey, rye whiskey, and liqueurs. Buy it now!

Old Grand-Dad 114

Old Grand-Dad is one of the oldest and most storied brands, yet it receives little attention from Bourbon enthusiasts or marketing effort from the brand’s current owner, Beam Suntory. This might be simply due to the fact that it is a legacy brand offered at a head-scratching low price point that likely has little room for anything other than simply fulfilling the existing supply chain and keeping existing consumers happy, and potentially drawing them deeper into Beam’s other brands. Unbelievably underrated and smooth for a spirit of this strength, the Old Grand-Dad 114 will put hair on your chest. Buy it now!