The Smoothest New Bourbons Of 2024

The Smoothest New Bourbons Of 2024

The quest to discover outstanding bourbons for your bar cart persists into the new year, with the arrival of intriguing and flavorful releases in the final months of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. A diverse range of options awaits, including special barrel finishes, age-statement expressions from renowned brands, potent barrel-proof selections, unique single barrel releases, and distinctive new labels. To assist you in navigating this abundance, Zach Johnston a writer for Uproxx presents a blind taste test featuring 12 noteworthy bourbons. The goal is to identify a superbly smooth bourbon, emphasizing approachability and an appealing flavor profile. Shop New Bourbons!

12. OOLA Waitsburg Whiskey Bourbon

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, this whiskey is a testament to local craftsmanship, embodying a grain-to-glass approach with a spotlight on organic Washington white winter wheat. Aged patiently for six to eight years, the whiskey undergoes meticulous batching and bottling, showcasing the dedication to quality and flavor inherent in this Pacific Northwest distillery. Buy it now!

11. Almost Old Bones Bourbon 9 Years Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Old Bones, renowned for its 10-year-old bourbon expressions, introduces a distinctive twist in their late 2023 release. This offering features a sourced Kentucky bourbon from Bardstown, boasting a mash bill of 75% corn, 15% rye, and 10% malted barley. Left undisturbed in barrels for nine years, the whiskey undergoes careful batching and bottling, receiving a subtle touch of water for a refined and nuanced final product. Buy it now!

10. 291 Bad Guy Colorado Bourbon Whiskey 10th Anniversary

Hailing from Colorado, this unique whiskey from 291 is crafted from a blend of local corn, malted wheat, malted rye, and beech-smoked malted barley. Adhering to 291's traditional aging techniques, the whiskey undergoes a maturation period of approximately two years, incorporating aspen wood staves in the barrel to expedite the aging process. The final product is meticulously batched and bottled in its natural state, showcasing the distinctive character of this Colorado whiskey. Buy it now!

9. Lost Lantern Single Distillery Series Brooklyn Bakery Kings County Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Lost Lantern presents a truly unique offering with this single cask bottling, featuring a distinct Kentucky barrel sourced from New Riff Distilling, situated just across the river from Cincinnati. The whiskey within the barrel is a low-corn bourbon, crafted with a mash bill comprising 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, and aged for a duration of four years. Bottled at cask strength, the barrel produced approximately 120 bottles, ensuring a rare and limited-edition experience for whiskey enthusiasts. Buy it now!

8. 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!

7. 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!

6. 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!

5. New Riff High Note Series: Bohemian Wheat Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8-Year-Old

The late 2023 release from New Riff puts the spotlight on wheat, featuring a unique mash bill of 65% non-GMO corn, 18% Bohemian floor-malted wheat, 10% unmalted wheat, and 7% dark wheat. After undergoing the aging process on the banks of the Ohio River, this whiskey is small-batched and presented to enthusiasts in its pure, unaltered state, showcasing the distinctive influence of the wood and the wheated bourbon over the years. Buy it now!

4. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1924 10-Year-Old

Old Forester introduces a brand-new release, marking several firsts for the heritage brand. This 10-year age-statement whiskey is a departure from tradition, featuring a new mash bill composed of 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley. Carefully aged in the renowned Brown-Forman warehouse, the whiskey reaches its peak maturity before undergoing the meticulous processes of batching, proofing, and bottling. This expression represents a bold exploration of flavor and aging by a brand with a rich history in the world of bourbon. Buy it now!

3. Redwood Empire Devils Tower High Rye Bourbon Whiskey

Redwood Empire introduces a limited-edition small batch bourbon with only 25 barrels in the mix, delivering a distinctive and unique flavor profile. The mash bill, comprised of 51% corn, 45% rye, 2% malted barley, and 2% wheat, sets this bourbon apart from the rest. Patiently rested in barrels until reaching optimal maturity, the whiskey is then expertly batched, proofed, and bottled. This release reflects the artistry and precision that Redwood Empire brings to crafting small-batch bourbons in California. Buy it now!

2. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Fall 2023

The final limited edition Old Fitz release in 2023 marks a relatively youthful addition to the continuous Decanter series. Created from wheated bourbon barrels sourced from Heaven Hill and filled in the autumn of 2015, the selection process involved meticulous curation and batching, followed by precise proofing and bottling. This release showcases the ongoing commitment to quality and craftsmanship inherent in the Old Fitzgerald Decanter series. Buy it now!

1. Starlight Distillery Carl T. Huber’s Mizunara Reserve Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Mizunara Barrels

The recent release from Starlight Distillery in Indiana features their signature bourbon with an 80% corn mash bill, aged for a substantial seven years. The whiskey underwent a distinctive finishing process, as it was re-barreled into fresh Japanese Mizunara casks, imparting a final layer of mellowing. After this unique maturation, the bourbon was carefully batched and bottled, showcasing the innovative craftsmanship of Starlight Distillery. Buy it now!