Ditch the Bottom Shelf for These 13 Bourbons

Skip The Bottom Shelf And Buy These 13 Bourbons Instead

Skipping bottom-shelf bourbons and opting for mid-shelf options in the $50–$100 range strikes the perfect balance between quality and value. These bourbons often feature more refined aging, richer flavor profiles, and smoother finishes than budget options, without the steep price of premium bottles. Mid-shelf bourbons deliver complexity with notes of caramel, vanilla, spice, and oak, making them perfect for sipping neat or elevating your favorite cocktails. They represent the sweet spot where craftsmanship meets accessibility, offering a rewarding experience for both casual enthusiasts and seasoned bourbon lovers.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This bourbon, which was double-barreled in custom casks, won the Double Gold Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Buy it now!

Baker's Single Barrel 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Baker's Bourbon is a limited-edition Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey that is made and chosen according to the customs of Baker Beam, the renowned Jim Beam's grandson. This exact method is still used to make Baker's today, and it is matured in only the best rackhouses to produce a strong bourbon flavor with a smooth, silky finish. In order to extract more toasted nut, fruit, and vanilla flavor from the barrel wood, Baker's Bourbon is barreled and aged in small amounts after being carefully matured for superior quality. With a medium-long, smooth, and sweet finish, it has a fruity, vanilla, and caramel scent. Buy it now!

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey

Pipe Dream Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey is an uncut and unfiltered craft offering, delivering the full experience straight from the barrel. This limited edition is aged for a minimum of four years in the temperate climate of Northern California's coast, showcasing Redwood Empire's dedication to exceptional whiskey-making. Boasting a deep golden hue, its nose reveals notes of toffee, cherry, and soft leather, while the palate delights with flavors of cherry cola, honey, butterscotch, and pecans. Crafted with a mash bill of 73% corn, 18% rye, 5% malted barley, and 4% wheat, it is a blend of bourbons aged from 4 to 14 years, with a proof of 115.8. Acclaimed with 96 points from The Tasting Panel, 91 points from Whiskey Advocate, and a Platinum Medal for Best in Show at the TAG Spirits Awards, this bourbon sets a new standard in cask strength craft whiskey. Buy it now!

Still Austin Whiskey Co. Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey

This bold and elevated version of our beloved straight bourbon combines strength and finesse, bottled at an impressive 118 proof. Made with a mash bill of 70% white corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley, this 100% Texas spirit captures the essence of craftsmanship. Aged for at least two years, it boasts a complex profile with a nose of brandied cherries, muddled mint, blackberry cobbler, biscuit crust, and cinnamon toast. The palate delivers grilled peaches, balsamic vinegar, butterscotch pecan pie, and dark brown sugar, while the finish highlights rye spice, nutmeg, and clove. Recognized with Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in both 2022 and 2023, this 116-proof (58% ABV) bourbon is a true powerhouse, offering a rich and unforgettable tasting experience. Buy it now!

Peerless Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

"The launch of our bourbon marks the realization of so many dreams from the team at Kentucky Peerless." ~ Caleb Kilburn

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

This Bourbon, which was aged for eight to 10 years, was recognized as one of the top ten in the nation. Buy it now!

Widow Jane 10 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Widow Jane 10 Year Bourbon, a hyper-small-batch whiskey with a charred wood finish, rounded spice, and a faint sweetness on the palate, is hand-assembled in Brooklyn utilizing a blend of the rarest and richest whiskeys from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. Buy it now!

Green River Distilling Co. Full Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey

With a premium mash bill consisting of 70% Kentucky-grown corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, Green River Full Proof Bourbon is made in small amounts and bottled at barrel strength. It's the most daring way to make bourbon. Buy it now!

Ben Holladay 'Soft Red Wheat' Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Compared to bourbon manufactured with rye, which usually imparts spice to the tongue, bourbon created with wheat typically has a softer and sweeter taste profile. Compared to other wheat varieties, soft red wheat contains less gluten, red bran, and protein. As the name implies, bourbons made with soft red wheat have a smooth, velvety finish. One of the few bottled-in-bond wheat bourbons available, Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon is matured for six or more years, and it was well worth the wait. A product must be aged, distilled, and bottled in the same place to ensure authenticity and meet the unique and esteemed conditions to be labeled Bottled-in-Bond. Buy it now!

Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A master distiller with more than 50 years of distilling experience creates this single-cask bourbon, which is matured in highly charred casks under the harsh Kentucky sun. Buy it now!

Knob Creek 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bottled at 100 percent, this Knob Creek is matured for 12 years. Buy it now!

W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This unique bourbon won a Silver Medal at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Buy it now!

Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

According to Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible, this whiskey was "magnificent" after being aged for at least ten years. Buy it now!