The 20 Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $70

The 20 Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $70

When it comes to finding exceptional and delicious bourbon, you don't have to break the bank, with the $50-$70 price range offering a sweet spot. As you approach the seventy-dollar mark, bourbon becomes truly special, featuring unique barrel finishes, sought-after masterpieces, impressive single barrel releases, craft gems, and the finest offerings from renowned distilleries. To guide your exploration, here are 20 bourbon bottles that are a must-buy, try, and a valuable addition to your collection. Shop bourbons!

Fern Creek Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This relatively new Kentucky bottler is acquiring notable Kentucky bourbon barrels to craft its small batch. Comprising a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, the whiskey undergoes a maturation period of five years and 10 months before being batched, proofed, and bottled. Buy it now for $50!

J. Rieger & Co. Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, this small craft whiskey is created from a mash bill consisting of 56% corn, 30% rye, and 14% malted barley. The whiskey is patiently aged for six years before undergoing batching, proofing, and bottling. Buy it now for $64.99!

Barrell Foundation Bourbon

Barrell Craft Spirits, renowned for their cask-strength single barrels and blended batches of bourbon, rye, and American whiskey, has ventured into the realm of non-cask-strength bourbon for a broader audience. This whiskey represents a blend from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Maryland, meticulously proofed down to a smooth 100-proof expression. Buy it now for $54.99!

Heaven’s Door Revival Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The revamped Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon, now featuring a new design, boasts a minimum age of six years. Maturing in single-story rickhouses in Tennessee, the barrels benefit from a climate dominated by cool air, avoiding the extreme temperatures found in higher floors or crow’s nests. Once reaching optimal maturation, the barrels are batched, the whiskey is proofed, and the resulting bourbon is meticulously bottled. Buy it now for $58.99!

Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon, introduced in the fall of 2019, aims to deliver an affordable yet distinctive daily bourbon with the signature Smoke Wagon flavor profile. Crafted from barrels featuring a high rye mash bill, strategically placed on the top two floors of the warehouse without rotation, this bourbon undergoes a unique maturation process. The elevated temperatures on the upper floors contribute to increased expansion and interaction with the wood, resulting in a rich and creamy character beyond its years. With no barrel rotation, the bourbon avoids harsh tannin flavors, and the high rye mash bill imparts a delightful spicy and nutty finish. The nose opens with inviting aromas of honey, toasted nuts, oak, and a subtle heat. The palate offers a creamy mouthfeel, with initial sweetness of honey and caramel at the forefront, followed by notes of nuts, oak, and pepper spice that gradually intensify. The nuttiness and oak gracefully fade, giving way to the dominance of peppery rye spice across the palate. The finish is a harmonious blend of creamy sweetness, lingering oak, and pepper spice, creating a well-rounded and flavorful bourbon experience. Buy it now for $35.99.

Conecuh Ridge Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A noteworthy addition to Alabama's Clyde May's portfolio, this new whiskey marks a milestone for the Conecuh Ridge Distillery in Troy. While the whiskey is sourced from Indiana, it is a carefully curated blend of five-year-old barrels. Functioning as a preview of the future offerings from the Troy distillery, this blend provides a glimpse into the quality and character that enthusiasts can expect from the upcoming production. Buy it now for $55.99!

Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon Whiskey 

Wheel Horse's limited edition offering, comprising only 3,000 bottles from the latter part of the previous year, presents a unique blend of four- to five-year-old Kentucky bourbons. This distinctive whiskey undergoes a finishing process in Armagnac, Sherry, and Port casks, where it matures for approximately six to eight months, acquiring nuanced flavors. Following this meticulous aging and finishing, the whiskey is carefully batched and bottled, resulting in a special release that reflects the artful craftsmanship of Wheel Horse. Buy it now!

Nelson Brothers Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

The latest release from Nelson’s Green Brier marks a significant evolution for the brand. This high-rye bourbon undergoes a meticulous aging process of four years before being masterfully blended for this expression. The final product is then bottled without any additional fussing or meddling. Buy it now for $65!

Few Bourbon Whiskey

The Few bourbon whiskey is challenging the conventional wisdom that exceptional bourbon is exclusive to Kentucky, this bourbon blend proudly asserts its unique character. Crafted with a distinctive blend of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malt, the spirit takes an unconventional approach by fermenting with a peppery yeast traditionally reserved for Saison beer. The nose introduces a symphony of cinnamon and clove, accompanied by the inviting sweetness of corn and the subtle influence of oak. The palate is bold and indulgent, expertly balancing the interplay of sweetness and spice. A departure from the ordinary, this bourbon offers an assertive spice profile and a subtle hint of drying astringency, making it a delightful choice for sipping neat or as a refreshing twist in a 'Bold Fashioned.' Buy it now for $43.99.

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey 1856

Introduced to Uncle Nearest five years ago, this Tennessee whiskey blend continues to be the cornerstone of the line. The expression features a subtly blended Tennessee whiskey, legally classified as bourbon, aged for at least five years. Prior to bottling, a touch of water is added to create the final product. Buy it now for $57.99!

New England Barrel Company Small Batch Select

Indulge in the pleasure of a quality pour after a long day, with friends, or alongside a meal. Our Small Batch Select line is crafted to satisfy your palate daily. Explore our Bourbon release today, and stay tuned for the upcoming release of our rye expression. Cheers to enjoying the finer moments! Buy it now for $63.99!

New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon

The releases from New Riff are uniquely tailored for different locations, predominantly available through select retailers. The whiskey within the bottle features New Riff's standard bourbon mash, consisting of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. Aged for a minimum of four years, each bottle is individually filled without cutting or filtration, ensuring a distinctive and unaltered expression. Buy it now for $57.99!

Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof A124

The inaugural release of Larceny Barrel Proof for 2024 is a true classic. This expression comprises a blend of six- to eight-year-old bourbons carefully selected from the wheated bourbon barrels housed at Heaven Hill. Retaining the integrity of the original barrels, the whiskey is presented in its unadulterated form, offering enthusiasts an authentic and robust taste of the distillery's craftsmanship. Buy it now for $69.99!

Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Huber’s Rickhouse Select Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The single-barrel releases from Huber Winery’s Starlight Distillery are gaining attention in the craft bourbon scene. Hailing from Indiana, this bourbon embodies a true craft spirit, rooted in a family tradition dating back to the mid-1800s on the same farm—distinct from MGP. The unique mash bill, varying by barrel, comprises 58% corn, 27% rye, and 15% malted barley. Aged for a minimum of four years, the whiskey is deemed ready for single-barrel bottling without any further adjustments. Buy it now for $59.99!

Baker's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Baker’s bourbon is meticulously selected from single barrels situated in specific warehouses and ricks across the Beam facility in Clermont, Kentucky. Ensuring a rich and mature flavor profile, the bourbon is aged for at least seven years. In this particular instance, the aging process extended to eight years and one month before being bottled in its unaltered form. Buy it now for $67.99!

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon Whiskey

Every barrel of Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve undergoes a meticulous hand-picking process and is individually bottled, ensuring a unique and singular expression. Bottled at 120 proof, this variant offers an amplified representation of Knob Creek. Expect more pronounced flavors and a smokier aroma, leading to a smooth and complex finish. Buy it now for $67.99!

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon

Buffalo Trace's Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch serves as an introduction to the 12 expressions released under the E.H. Taylor, Jr. label. Crafted from Buffalo Trace's iconic Mash Bill No. 1, characterized by a low rye recipe, this whiskey is a blend of barrels meticulously selected to meet the precise flavor profiles sought by Buffalo Trace's blenders. The result is a classic bottled-in-bond bourbon that honors the legacy of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Buy it now for $54.99!

Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond

The newest release from Chattanooga, the Bottled-in-Bond (BIB), is crafted from whiskey that was barrelled in the fall of 2019. After a patient maturation period of four years, a careful selection of 10 to 12 barrels was batched and proofed to bring forth this exceptional release. Buy it now for $54.99!

Old Weller Antique 107

Old Weller Antique, often affectionately abbreviated as OWA by enthusiasts who appreciate its old-school charm, is a non-age-statement bourbon. The distinctive characteristic of this expression lies in its higher proof. The barrels are carefully vatted and only slightly proofed down to 107-proof before bottling, retaining the bold flavors and intensity with an entry proof of 114. Buy it now for $55.99!

Four Roses Single Barrel

This Single Barrel from Four Roses presents a slightly proofed variation of their renowned OBSV recipe. The OBSV recipe is characterized by a delicate fruit yeast and a high-rye mash bill. Specifically chosen from the north side of Warehouse P—a cherished location for Four Roses' single barrel enthusiasts—this selection highlights the significant impact that barrel position and warehouse conditions can have on the whiskey's flavor profile. Buy it now for $45.99!