American Whiskey is becoming exponentially popular amongst Australian drinkers. In this blog we’re bringing you 10 of the best value, highest quality bourbons that we think will be strong contenders for most popular Kentucky Bourbon here at MyBottleShop for 2017. Some of these beauties are available nowhere else in Australia – let’s kick things off with a cracker:
Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon
With its decanter-shaped bottle, this one could be worth picking up for the shelf appeal alone, but even beyond the visual considerations, Willett Pot Still Reserve delivers delightful vanilla, caramel, and sweet oak tastes that make it well worth the price. I find that to really awaken the depth of flavours, this one is best paired with two cubes of ice. The subtle heat and lack of after-bite on the finish combine to make Willett Pot Still Reserve one of the smoothest bourbons on this list. [$129.99]
A bonded spirit is a product of one distillation season and one distiller at one distillery, and the process was codified in the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 as a way of ensuring quality. For bourbon to be bonded, it needs to boast the higher-than-average proof of 100 (50% ABV). In the case of Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond (and the “Bottled in Bond” is the important thing to note here, as regular OGD is a different animal), this high rye bourbon delivers the flavours of sweet corn, brown sugar, heavy maple syrup, and a charred but surprisingly smooth finish accompanied by very little burn. At this price and with this proof, you will not beat this bourbon. [$99.99 ]
Michter’s Small Batch Original Bourbon Whiskey
Although it’s currently produced in Kentucky, Michter’s traces its roots as far back as pre-Revolutionary Pennsylvania. It would even have a claim to being the nation’s oldest continuously operational whiskey distillery had it not closed its doors during the Prohibition years. (It’s competitor, Buffalo Trace, remained open at the time to make spirits for medicinal purposes.) With its light amber colour and its sweet first tastes – subtle cinnamon and faint butterscotch included – one can be forgiven for immediately wishing their Michter’s was accompanied by a slice of pecan pie. All this finishes with a balanced sweetness and a touch of heat to make an all-around great sipping bourbon, or a great base for an Old Fashioned. [$109.99]
Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
There is a cocktail recipe called “Cud’n Walker’s Uncle Will’s Favourite Mint Julep” and, chief among its ingredients, it calls for “excellent bourbon whiskey.” For this purpose, and with those criteria, Four Roses Small Batch is the perfect match. Sweet, spicy, and with a comforting heat on its finish, the flavours of this bourbon are deliciously accentuated by following the steps outlined by “Cud’n Walker’s Uncle Will” – “put a half inch of sugar in the bottom of the glass and merely dampen it with water. … [Slip] two sprigs of fresh mint against the inside … [and] cram the [crushed] ice right to the brim. … Finally, fill the glass, which apparently has no room left for anything else.” At this point, there’s nothing left to do but “settle back into your chair for half an hour of cumulative bliss.” (Of course, this one is also excellent on its own as well.) [$79.99]
Jefferson’s Ocean: Aged at Sea
Buy a bunch of older bourbon barrels from other distilleries and load them onto a ship, then cross the equator four times on a cross-continental sea voyage. Sounds like the start of a dream of mine, except it’s actually the way Jefferson’s Ocean conducts its ageing process.
Sure, it sounds like simple novelty, but believe me when I say that this is more than a good yarn; it’s really delicious. The hot, spicy taste builds from your first sip and it’s a nice reminder that you’re drinking something with a story to tell. If you’re careful and patient, you might even detect subtle, salty brine – sort of like how when you hold a seashell to your ear, you can hear the crashing waves. In the end, these flavours blend into a caramel and wood-like finish that’s among the most interesting you’ll find anywhere. Buy this one for the creation myth, but covet it for its taste. [$179.99]
Check in with our blog in the next few days to check out part 2 of the 10 Great and Affordable Kentucky Bourbons Blog Series.
*If you’re interested in any of the bottles featured, don’t forget to sign up to the ‘Wait List’ on the product page in order to be notified when the product hits the shelf