The Best Everyday Bourbons for Your Home Bar

With new brands and bottles releasing every week, it seems, it can be quite daunting to select decent bourbon that’s not only affordable but tasty. Sure, there’s a time and place for unicorn bottles that you only bring out on special occasions. But what about the everyday options? You want a brand you can find consistently on the shelf of your favorite liquor store; you want it to taste great; and you want it to pair well with cocktails. That can’t be so hard to find, can it?

If you’re stuck wading through hundreds of choices on the shelf, here is a handful you can start with to stock your home bar. Don’t think of them as beginner bottles, think of them as the bread and butter of the bourbon world. Now let’s dig in.

Old Forester 100 Proof

MSRP $23 | 100 Proof

I always have a bottle of this open on my home bar. Not only is it delicious to sip neat, but at 100 proof, it really stands up well to the sugar in cocktails like the Old Fashioned. I’m not exaggerating when I say that every home bar in Kentucky has an Old Forester product on it, and there’s a reason: It’s inexpensive, it’s quality and it’s our little secret …for now.

Tasting Notes:

Old Fo works so well in an Old Fashioned because it has lots of citrus notes on the nose and palate. It’s rich, with pleasant notes of roasted coffee, caramel and graham cracker, and there’s just a hint of banana that is common in most Old Forester bourbons. When you’re at the store, be sure to grab the 100 proof bottle, not the 86 proof. Trust me.

Larceny

MSRP $25 | 92 Proof

Larceny is a wheated bourbon and is a great addition to your home bar for that very reason. The wheat in the mash bill makes the bourbon a bit softer around the edges, so to speak, so you can enjoy this one neat, on the rocks or added to a cocktail like a Whiskey Sour. The bourbon inside the bottle is about 6 years old, according to Heaven Hill, so it’s a solid pour given its time in the barrel.

Tasting Notes:

I typically get a lot of butterscotch in Larceny, both in the aroma and the taste. Think buttered popcorn drizzled with butterscotch, and you get the idea. Of course the time in the barrel imparts some lovely oak notes, making it a great choice for pairing with cocktails. There’s also a barrel proof version of Larceny, so if you want to kick things up a notch, try that.

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

MSRP $44 | 96 Proof

This Bardstown Bourbon Co. beauty features a high-rye mash bill that makes it perfect for making cocktails. At 36% rye, which is quite high in the industry, that warm spice is an ideal flavor component that razzles and dazzles in a standard Manhattan. It’s also a warm sipper if drinking neat and would pair well with a blanket and a fireplace.

Tasting Notes:

Even though there’s a high rye content, there are many delightful and sweet flavors found here. I get a lot of vanilla and citrus on the nose, followed by brown sugar, cinnamon and caramel on the palate. The rye tingles the tongue up front, but there are some sweet rewards on the finish as well.

Michter’s US1 Bourbon

MSRP $44 | 91.4 Proof

This small batch bourbon is a great example of the solid whiskey coming out of Michter’s these days. At an approachable 91.4 proof, it’s ideal for mixing in cocktails or sipping on the rocks. If bourbon had an everyday bourbon, this would be it.

Tasting Notes:

Michter’s is known for its low barrel entry proof, meaning less water is added at the end. The water that is added (before it goes into the barrel) gets to mingle and age right alongside the whiskey, and I believe that creates more flavor nuances. I get a lot of citrus, cherry and vanilla notes on the nose, followed by a thick buttery mouthfeel of caramel, baked cherry and graham cracker.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

MSRP $50 | 90.4 Proof

For someone new to bourbon, this is a great starting place. And for someone well-versed in bourbonism, it’s also a great starting place. While Woodford Double Oaked sits at a higher price point than some other everyday bourbons, you won’t regret having a bottle open on your bar at all times. This double-barreled bourbon was made to be savored, so I wouldn’t put it in a cocktail. Save this for relaxing after one of those hard days at work.

Tasting Notes:

If you took a campfire s’more and put it in a blender, it would be quite messy, but it would taste a lot like Woodford Double Oaked. This bourbon is so rich, it has no trouble keeping up with the Kardashians. It’s sweet, rich and decadent, with notes of honey, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow and a dash of black pepper. Skip the cake and devour a glass of this.

RD1 Bourbon Finished in Brazilian Amburana Wood

MSRP $70 | 110 Proof

OK, this one is a little out there, but if you’re looking to entertain at your home bar, you want to pull out something a little unconventional. It’s also higher in cost than the others here and might not be available in all 50 states yet, but hear me out. The small batch bourbon ages traditionally for four years, and then staves made from Amburana wood, also known as “Brazilian Oak,” are inserted into the barrels to mingle for a few months.

RD1 Tasting Notes:

This is essentially Thanksgiving in a glass. There’s spicy gravy, there’s candied yams, there’s fresh-baked pecan pie — and it all comes together under the guise of a finished Kentucky bourbon. Think cinnamon, spiced apple, molasses cookies and black pepper, and you have the first sip of this strange but true whiskey.

SpiritsSara HavensMarch 11, 2024bourbon, home bartendingComment