The Five Best Everyday Bourbons for the Home Bar
Five Best Everyday Bourbons for the Home Bar.
Looking for a great everyday bourbon (or two) for your home bar? Here are five top picks to consider
With so many bourbons on the market across all ranges of price and quality, it can be a bit overwhelming to narrow down the choices for which one(s) to buy and try for your home bar. With that in mind, this is list of five top picks for everyday bourbons with plain language comments.
At least a few of these five bourbon bottles should be easy to track down in your local liquor store. While you really can’t go wrong with any of these picks, they’re not all created equal. Read on for the differences and similarities you’ll find in each bourbon.
The Top Five Bourbons for the Home Bar
Michters US-1 Bourbon.
Michter's US 1
Michter's US*1 is an excellent choice as an everyday bourbon for the home bar.
Whether you're drinking it neat or in your favorite bourbon cocktail, Michter's US*1 is highly versatile, making it worthy of a place on your bar shelf. It has a great and inviting aroma and it's easy drinking with its trademark corn, vanilla, caramel and oak flavor notes.
Michter's US*1 has a long finish with a little spice and a nice bourbon burn, making it a great choice as a sipping bourbon. It also holds its own in any bourbon cocktail.
Michter's US 1: Aroma and Flavor Notes
Michter's US 1 has a very inviting sweet aroma of medium intensity. Butterscotch is present, along with a little orange peel and an overall bright and lively smell (when compared to the others on this list).
On first sip, there is mild spice, with caramel and oak leading the way on the flavor front. The spice builds and strengthens, however, ultimately overtaking the other flavors. The finish is long and spicy with a stronger oak taste on the back end.
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Bourbon.
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select
Woodford Reserve is a bourbon with a long and storied past. It is most often associated with Mint Juleps at the Kentucky Derby and with Manhattan cocktails.
In spite of the ups and downs in popularly that this bourbon has had over the years, it remains a very solid and excellent choice as one of the most approachable bourbons on the market. It is spicy, but not too spicy. It has a good mouthfeel, is slightly sweet and has a long finish with a satisfying bourbon burn.
Woodford Reserve is equally at home as a bourbon to sip neat or a go-to pick for your favorite bourbon cocktail.
Woodford Reserve Aroma and Flavor Notes
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select has a light-medium intensity aroma that is slightly sweet, with vanilla and caramel coming through. The aroma should prove appealing to the new or casual bourbon drinker.
On first sip, Woodford Reserve has more flavor than its aroma would lead you to believe. Spiciness leads the way and it is medium-strong in intensity. It's not as sweet tasting as the aroma, and has more complexity as well. The spice overtakes the vanilla and caramel and the finish is long with persistent spice.
Bulleit Bourbon.
Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey
Bulleit Bourbon is one of the most approachable overall bourbons on this list.
If you enjoy a spicy/peppery flavor profile, you'll likely enjoy Bulleit. This is not a bourbon that I would necessarily reach for to drink neat (although many do), but it works exceptionally well in any bourbon cocktail or in a mixed drink. The full body and long finish ensure that Bulleit does not get lost when mixed in a cocktail.
It may not be the best sipper, but it's a very versatile bourbon for the home bar shelf.
Bulleit Bourbon Flavor and Aroma Notes
Bulleit Bourbon has a very light aroma intensity, with a slightly sweet caramel (almost toffee-like) smell. It has the lightest aroma of all bourbons on this list.
On first sip, Bulleit Bourbon is medium intensity with light spice…initially. After a moment, that spice builds as the flavor progresses. Smoky oak is definitely present here and there is a long and spicy finish.
Bulleit Bourbon is not as smooth from a sipping perspective as others on this list, but its flavor profile makes it an ideal bourbon for cocktails and mixed drinks. If you’re drinking it straight, it would benefit from being served on the rocks.
Basic Hayden Bourbon Whiskey.
Basil Hayden Kentucky Bourbon
Basil Hayden Kentucky Bourbon is a great first bourbon for anyone looking to explore the variety of flavor complexities found across the range of bourbon whiskies.
Entry level does not mean low quality by any means, but rather I refer to the balance of its flavor profile and smooth drinking qualities. Its unique flavor profile has rye coming through moreso than many other bourbons, making it somewhat more familiar tasting to rye drinkers who are looking to explore the world of bourbon.
Basil Hayden Flavor and Aroma Notes
Basil Hayden Kentucky Bourbon has a very welcoming light-medium aroma of caramel with a hint of sweetness and oak.
On first sip, this is a very smooth bourbon—a great sipper. It is medium-intensity with a little spice and a hint of vanilla. The finish is much longer than the initial aroma and first sip would indicate, with the spice increasing in intensity a little, followed by a warm burn.
All in all, Basil Hayden provides a very well-balanced bourbon experience.
Four Roses Single Barrel Straight Bourbon.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is a great choice if you have some experience with bourbon and are looking for something with a little more complexity of flavor and a more prominent bourbon experience.
As a single barrel bourbon, it tends to have more of a full bourbon punch than the others on this list. As a result, it might not be the best choice from this list if you are new to the world of bourbons and want to wade in slowly. But, if you enjoy a truly whisky-forward flavor profile, then by all means give it a try as it is a great bourbon.
Four Roses Flavor and Aroma Notes
Four Roses Single Barrel begins with a very pleasant light-medium intensity aroma. It is very inviting.
On first sip, there is an explosion of spicy flavor that will awaken all of your taste buds at once. This is where it may take bourbon newbies by storm. The spiciness is quite prominent and if you're not prepared for it, it will be a surprise. Once the spice mellows a little, you'll find woody and caramel notes in behind.
Four Roses Single Barrel has a medium-long finish where the spice still lingers. All in all, a fun taste experience that will appeal to anyone looking to take a step up to the next level of bourbon tastings.
By Mike Belobradic
Wine, Spirits and Beer Virtuoso
Grand One Lounge