Best Bourbons of 2021 - List Roundup

Picture from Gearmoose [https://gearmoose.com/]

As 2021 draws to a close, we are once again inundated with yearly roundups of the best of 2021 lists. It seems everyone and their brother has come out with some version of the Best Bourbons of 2021. Below are a few of these lists.

Our first list comes from Liquor.com. 

 

• Best Overall: Henry McKenna Single Barrel 
• Best Value: Maker’s Mark
• Best for Sipping: Widow Jane 10 Year
• Best Kentucky Bourbon: Evan Williams Single Barrel
• Best Tennessee Bourbon: Heaven’s Door
• Best Under $50: Four Roses Single Barrel
• Best Under $100: Willett Noah’s Mill
• Best High-Proof: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
• Best Barrel Strength: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
• Best Wheated: Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch

 

Digital media website VinePair brings us our second list.

 

1. Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series FAE 01
2. Old Forester The 117 Series “High Angels” Share
3. Knob Creek 12-Year-Old
4. 1792 Single Barrel
5. New Riff Single Barrel
6. Pinhook Vertical Series “Bourbon War’ 5-Year
7. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
8. A. Smith Bowman “John J. Bowman” Pioneer Single Barrel

 

Our next list comes from Wine Enthusiast and is based on price and overall satisfaction. (Highest price to lowest).

 

• Angel’s Envy Finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak Casks Bourbon; $350.
• Four Roses 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch Barrel Strength; $150.
• Barrel Private Release A01A Bourbon; $110.
• 18th Street Distillery Spirit Thief Selection Bourbon; $100.
• Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2020 Edition; $90.
• Kuiper Belt Aged 8 Years Straight Kentucky Bourbon; $85.
• Peerless Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon; $70.
• Milam & Greene Single Barrel Straight Bourbon; $55.
• Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon; $45.
• George Remus Bourbon; $40.
• Navigator Straight Bourbon; $40.
• Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon; $30.
• Winchester Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Sherry Cask Staves; $30.

 

Digital media website Mashed.com brings us our next list based on price and overall satisfaction.

 

1. Maker’s Mark 46
2. Noah’s Mill Bourbon Whiskey
3. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
4. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
5. Four Roses Small Batch Select
6. Black Bourbon Society’s Maker’s Mark Private Selection: Recipe 2
7. Knob Creek 12-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon
8. W.L. Weller 12-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey
9. W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B
10. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year

 

Whiskey blog Whiskeybon.com supplies the next list. This is "a list of [their] personal preferences for what [they] enjoy the most but many of the choices do correlate positively with popular opinion."

 

Seven best bourbons that are not easily obtained:

 

1. W.L. Weller
2. George T Stagg
3. Pappy Van Winkle 15
4. Pappy Van Winkle 23
5. Four Roses Al Young
6. Michter's 20
7. Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel

 

Nine best bourbons that are obtainable:

 

1. Weller 12
2. 1792 Full Proof
3. Rebel Yell 10
4. Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10
5. Old Forester 1920
6. Blanton's Gold
7. Blanton’s SFTB
8. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
9. Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition

 

Two best budget bourbons:

 

1. Four Roses Single Barrel
2. Eagle Rare 10

 

Individual Awards:

 

Best Overall: W.L Weller (BTAC)

Best High Age (15 years +): Pappy Van Winkle 23

Best Pound for Pound: Weller 12

Best Value Budget Bourbon: Eagle Rare 10

Best Barrel Proof: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Best for First-Timers: Buffalo Trace

Best from Small Craft Distillery: Kings County Distillery Barrel Proof

Best Single Barrel: Four Roses Single Barrel

Best Small Batch: Elijah Craig 12

Best Bottled in Bond: Colonel EH Taylor Bottled In Bond

Best Wheated: Rebel Yell 10

Best High Rye: Wild Turkey 101

Best Smooth Bourbon: Blanton’s Gold Edition

Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon: Balcones Baby Corn

Lots of differing opinions but I've always said the best bourbons are the ones you enjoy.  

Four Roses Press Release Announcing New 50ml Bottles

50 ml options of award-winning Small Batch and Small Batch Select available now

Luxco rebrands Indiana home of its branded spirits to Ross & Squibb Distillery

PRESS RELEASE

LAWRENCEBURG, IN (Sept. 29, 2021) – Luxco will rename the 174-year-old, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distiller of its branded spirits Ross & Squibb Distillery™ as it joins the Luxco family of brands. Effective immediately, the distiller of George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey will go by its new name.

Like the brands it produces, Ross & Squibb Distillery pays tribute to Indiana’s distilling history and the pioneers who transformed Lawrenceburg, Indiana, into “Whiskey City USA” and helped make Indiana the rye capital of the world. The Ross & Squibb name is a celebration of two such stories:

“Ross” is inspired by the legacy of George Ross, who in 1847 founded the Rossville Distillery, located on what is now the Ross & Squibb Distillery campus. Considered one of Lawrenceburg’s original distilleries and one of America’s last Prohibition-era distilleries, Rossville Distillery produced some of the finest rye whiskeys in the world and was the inspiration for the Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey brand.

“Squibb” calls back to the historic Squibb Distillery, founded in 1869 in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and later purchased in 1921 by George Remus, King of the Bootleggers^® and inspiration for the George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand.

“In rebranding our Lawrenceburg distillery, we sought to celebrate Indiana’s rich and important distilling history, particularly as it involves the inspiration behind our branded spirits,” said David Bratcher, COO and president of branded spirits for MGP. “All Ross & Squibb brands find their inspiration in Indiana distilling history, so it is fitting the distillery itself now does as well.”

MGP will continue to produce bourbon, rye, whiskey, gin and grain-neutral spirits from this facility under its current name:  MGPI of Indiana, LLC, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, for its customers.

 

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux Family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Merged with MGP Ingredients, Inc. in 2021 (Nasdaq: MGPI), Luxco operates as MGP’s Brands Division and manages all MGP/Luxco brands. This extensive and award-winning spirits portfolio includes well-known brands from five distilleries: Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Daviess County; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey and Bowling & Burch Gin; Jalisco, Mexico-based Destiladora González Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas, El Mayor, Exotico and Dos Primos; Ross & Squibb Distillery, where George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey are produced; and the Washington, D.C.-based Green Hat Distillery, producer of the Green Hat family of gins. The innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.