When it comes to bourbon, not every bottle makes the cut year after year. But the Beverage Testing Institute, a top-notch group that's been judging spirits blind for decades, just rolled out its first Bourbon Hall of Fame. These aren't one-hit wonders—they're the heavy hitters that rack up platinum and gold medals over and over, proving they're the real deal in a crowded field. From powerhouse barrel-proof pours to smooth, easy-drinking wheaters, this list spotlights a dozen standouts from Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and FEW Spirits. It's like a roadmap for guys who want to stock their bar with bourbons that deliver every time, no guesswork needed.
Heaven Hill has been cranking out solid bourbon since 1935, when the Shapira family kicked things off in Bardstown, Kentucky. Today, they're the biggest family-owned spirits outfit in the country, with massive stocks of aging whiskey at their Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. They own big names like Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, and their own Heaven Hill label, and they're all about that classic Kentucky style.
Take Elijah Craig, their premium go-to since 1986. It's named after the Reverend Elijah Craig, the preacher who's often called the Father of Bourbon for supposedly starting the charred oak barrel trend. Their Barrel Proof Batch C924 clocks in at a hefty 64.5% ABV, made from a mash of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. This one's a beast on the nose, hitting you with deep caramel, dark toffee, toasted oak, roasted peanuts, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, cherry syrup, and a bit of orange zest. On the tongue, it's thick and bold, packing burnt sugar, peanut brittle, dried dark fruits, vanilla fudge, nutmeg, and charred oak with some serious black-pepper kick. The alcohol burns bright, but it blends in smooth. The finish drags on forever, sweet and spicy, leaving behind drying oak, leather, cocoa, caramel, and a chili warmth that's perfect for savoring slow after a long day.
Then there's the Elijah Craig Small Batch at 47% ABV, sticking to that same mash bill. It leads with caramel and vanilla aromas, backed by brown sugar, toasted oak, peanuts, stone fruits, and baking spices. The taste brings that signature Heaven Hill vibe—toffee, sweet corn, peanut brittle, light white pepper, plus hints of peach, apricot, and charred oak. It wraps up medium-length, drying gently with caramel, roasted nuts, baking spices, and a whisper of cold smoke. This is the kind of bourbon that's reliable for mixing or straight up, without overwhelming the senses.
For something a little different, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel at 47% ABV starts in charred oak then finishes in toasted new oak casks, using the small batch mash. That extra step makes it creamier and thicker, pumping up the sweetness, pastry vibes, and nuts. Aromas jump out with toasted oak, caramelized sugar, vanilla, cocoa, roasted nuts, black tea, and leather. The palate feels like dessert in a glass—molasses, milk chocolate, toasted marshmallow, baking spices, peach jam, all over sweet corn and seasoned oak. The long, sweet finish lingers with charred wood, milk chocolate, subtle smoke, and those spices, making it a great pick for evenings when you want something indulgent but not too heavy.
Heaven Hill's wheated line, Larceny, hit the scene in 2012, playing off the story of John E. Fitzgerald, the treasury agent who supposedly snagged the smoothest barrels back in the day. Those became known as Fitzgerald barrels, inspiring this brand. The Small Batch at 46% ABV uses 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. It smells like honeyed cornbread, caramel, vanilla, toffee, toasted wheat bread, candied orange zest, and baking spices. Smooth and oily on the mouth, it delivers caramel fudge, toasted cereal, cinnamon toast, nougat, and a nutty edge. The medium finish stays sweet with toasted wheat, vanilla, seasoned oak, and a cinnamon hint—ideal for guys who like their bourbon velvety without the rye bite.
Under the Heaven Hill name itself, the 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond at 50% ABV is a core player, built on 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. Aromas include caramel, vanilla cream, roasted peanuts, apple, clove, cinnamon, and seasoned oak. It tastes sweet and spicy with brown sugar, corn pudding, peanut brittle, rye pepper, and citrus zest. The medium finish brings seasoned oak, peanuts, baking spices, and a char note that's got that classic depth.
Their Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon from the 2025 Specialty Barrel Series runs at 53.3% ABV, around six years old, with 52% corn, 35% wheat, and 13% malted barley, all in custom Chinquapin oak barrels for extra vanilla and dessert notes. Aromas hit with baking spices, nuts, fresh oak, vanilla, dried apricot, and toasted salted peanuts. On the palate, it's robust and viscous—butterscotch, crème brûlée, honeyed wheat bread, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, toasted oak. The long, layered finish leaves vanilla cream, toasted nuts, baking spices, seasoned oak, and dried fruit, making it a standout for collectors who dig experimental twists.
Evan Williams, Heaven Hill's big-volume brand since 1957, honors the Welsh immigrant who allegedly set up Kentucky's first commercial distillery in 1783. It's one of the world's top sellers, using the core mash bill. The 1783 Small Batch at 45% ABV smells like buttered toast, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, fennel, anise, toasted peanut, and biscuit. Medium-bodied, it tastes of sweet corn, brown sugar, toffee, seasoned oak, vanilla, pipe tobacco, and floral hints. The medium finish has cornbread, toasted peanuts, baking spices, and a dry oak grip—straightforward and satisfying.
The Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond White Label at 50% ABV, aged at least four years on the standard mash, offers caramel, vanilla, banana bread, toasted oak, peppery spices, and herbal mint on the nose. Sweet and robust in the mouth with brown sugar, toffee, charred oak, cinnamon, black pepper, cornbread, and cocoa. The long finish packs rye spices like clove, dark chocolate, and charred oak—great for those nights kicking back with a cigar.
Over at Four Roses, they've got history dating back to the late 1800s, with the brand trademarked in 1888. Now distilled at their Lawrenceburg, Kentucky spot with that cool Spanish Mission look, they're known for two mash bills—a lower rye and a higher one—and five yeast strains, creating 10 unique recipes they blend or bottle solo.
The Small Batch Select at 52% ABV, usually six to seven years old, mixes six recipes: OBSV, OESV, OBSK, OESK, OBSF, OESF, pulling from mash bills of 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley and 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley. Aromas burst with raspberries, red berries, apricot, vanilla cream, clove, nutmeg, floral, and mint. Layered on the palate with apricot jam, red berries, honey, cinnamon, spearmint, seasoned oak, pepper, and herbal notes. The long, sweet finish has spearmint, cinnamon, cocoa, seasoned oak—complex enough to keep you coming back.
Their Single Barrel OBSV at 50% ABV uses the high-rye B mash of 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley with the V yeast for fruity notes. Aromas include citrus zest, pear, apple, cherry, vanilla, caramel, and floral. Clean and spicy tasting with honeyed cornbread, dried apricot, toffee, pepper, clove, herbal mint. Medium finish dries a bit with seasoned oak, spearmint, baking spices, and sweet fruit echo—pure rye-driven fire.
FEW Spirits shakes things up as a craft outfit started in 2011 by Paul Hletko in Evanston, Illinois—the first legal distillery there since Prohibition, in a spot once all about temperance. The name FEW tips to small batches and Frances Elizabeth Willard's initials, with a rebellious wink. They use local grains and keep it small-batch.
The Straight Bourbon at 46.5% ABV has 70% corn, 20% rye, 10% malted barley. Aromas of dark caramel, vanilla, cocoa, orange zest, roasted peanuts, herbal rye. Robust and grainy on the tongue with brown sugar, cherry cola, cinnamon, allspice, espresso, black pepper. Medium finish with seasoned oak, mocha, cold smoke—bold for craft fans.
The Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon at 50% ABV, aged at least four years on the same mash, smells of stewed cherries, vanilla, toasted oak, baking spice, cold smoke. Powerful tasting with caramel toffee, dark cherry, cocoa, vanilla, seasoned oak, rye spices, smoke. Long, drying finish with cherry syrup, vanilla, smoke, charred oak, pepper, clove, herbal rye—concentrated and intense.
What sets these Hall of Fame bourbons apart is their track record. The Beverage Testing Institute tests blind, so it's all about the liquid in the glass, not the label. These bottles from Heaven Hill, Four Roses, and FEW have nailed it multiple times with platinums and golds, showing balance, structure, and that sip-after-sip appeal. In a world full of hype, they're the ones you can count on for a solid pour, whether you're building a collection, mixing cocktails, or just unwinding. If you're chasing bourbon that stands the test of time, this list is your starting point—proven winners that belong in any serious setup.
