A whiskey soaked country if ever there was one, the American whiskey industry can be a tricky one to navigate. The sheer amount of types of whiskey as well as distilleries (to date, there are over 2000) across the country can make it difficult to know what you’re looking for, let alone to find your favourites. That said, the vast choice means there’s quite literally something for everyone.
First things first: like Irish whiskey, American whiskey is spelled with an ‘e’. Unlike Scottish whisky which requires the use of malted barley, American whiskey is typically made with corn, which lends it a unique flavour profile that distinguishes it from its Scottish, Japanese, Irish, and Australian counterparts. As a general rule, corn-based American whiskeys (such as bourbon) tend to be sweeter, with notes of dark chocolate, candy corn, and vanilla coming through.
The best American whiskey brands in 2024
While there’s no shortage of distilleries and brands across the country, there are certain key players you need to know about. Encompassing bourbon, rye, rye malt, Tennessee, and wheat whiskeys, these are the best American whiskey brands to try.
1. Pappy Van Winkle
Pappy Van Winkle is one of the most covetable and difficult-to-acquire bourbons on the market. Voted the world’s best bourbon many times over, Pappy Van Winkle drams are often snapped up for upwards of four figures well before they make it to the bar. The Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year-Old is the brand’s ‘entry-level’ (read: still above the $1000AUD mark) bourbon is bottled at close to cask strength and characterised by a rich, sweet palate of vanilla, caramel, oak, and custard with a long finish. If you have money to burn (or drink), look no further than the Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20-Year-Old. A wheated bourbon, it takes on a soft, mellow tone that belies its age, defined by a palate of molasses, dried stone fruit, cinnamon, and a hint of tobacco.
Established in: 1935
Founder: Pappy Van Winkle
Location: Kentucky
Notable expressions: Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year-Old, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20-Year-Old, Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year-Old
2. Uncle Nearest
A Tennessee whiskey with a unique backstory, Uncle Nearest is inspired by the story of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green, the first African-American master blender and the one who taught a young Jack Daniel the craft while still enslaved. While Green played an instrumental role in the history of American (and particularly, Tennessee) whiskey, it’s only been recognised in recent years. When entrepreneur and author Fawn Weaver learnt of his story, she decided to honour Green by founding Uncle Nearest, in turn making history with a female-founded whiskey brand with an all-female, all-minority executive board. Today, its master blender is Victoria Eady Butler, Green’s great-great-granddaughter. The Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey is the brand’s debut release, combining corn and rye whiskeys to create a rich yet mellow dram with nuanced notes of corn, vanilla, and molasses.
Established in: 2017
Founder: Fawn Weaver
Location: Tennessee
Notable expressions: 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey, 1884 Small Batch
3. Jack Daniel’s
A name familiar to even non-drinkers, Jack Daniel’s is one of the most recognisable whiskey brands in the world. While it’s long been hailed as a go-to dram by Frank Sinatra fans and truckers on a long journey alike, there’s never been a better time to try Jack Daniel’s. The Jack Daniel’s Bonded is bottled-in-bond, a distinction of American whiskey produced to exacting standards, and represents an elevated take on its iconic No. 7 standard. Otherwise, you can’t go wrong with the Old No. 7, which is charcoal-mellowed (a process that sees the whiskey travel drop by drop through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal) to give it its distinct smoothness and boasts a harmonious balance of sweet and oaky notes which work well on the rocks or with coke. Alternatively, Gentleman Jack is a double-mellowed expression that lends itself to sipping neat.
Established in: 1875
Founder: Jack Daniel
Location: Lynchburg, Tennessee
Notable expressions: Old No. 7, Bonded, Gentleman Jack
4. Elijah Craig
Named after the ‘Father of bourbon’, the legendary Baptist minister who aged his corn whiskey in charred oak barrels in 1789, Elijah Craig crafts some of the best bourbon in the country. The Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the brand’s flagship expression. Matured in perfectly charred oak barrels, it boasts sweet notes of honey, marzipan, and wildflower, accented with oak and a hint of smoke.
Established in: 1986
Founder: Heaven Hill Distillery
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey
5. Heaven Hill
The Heaven Hill distillery is responsible for some of the most iconic names in American whiskey, including Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, and Old Fitzgerald. The distillery’s own bottled-in-bond Heaven Hill 7-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey is an unbeatable value proposition. Paying homage to the early days of the distillery, it’s a warm, sweet expression characterised by a subtle palate of spices, caramel, and honey, with a subtle hint of rye and a touch of charred oak.
Established in: 1835
Founder: Gary, George, David, Ed, and Mose Shapira
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Heaven Hill 7-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey
6. Buffalo Trace
One of the most iconic distilleries in the world, Buffalo Trace is home to iconic brands like Pappy Van Winkle, E.H. Taylor, Jr., and Blanton’s. However, its own namesake brand is a quiet, often overlooked stalwart. Paying tribute to the mighty buffalo that roamed the wilderness — and the American pioneers brave enough to follow them — the Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is known for its complex aroma of vanilla, mint, and molasses, with a palate of ripe fruit, toffee, anise, and brown sugar.
Established in: 1869
Founder: E.H. Taylor Jr.
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
7. Woodford Reserve
A favourite here at Albert Review, Woodford Reserve can be traced back to 1812 when distilling began on the site in Versailles, Kentucky. However, the brand as we know it was established in 1996 by Brown-Forman. The flagship Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a decidedly elegant expression, with a nose of dried fruits, orange, and mint that hints at a full-bodied palate of citrus, cinnamon, toffee, and dark chocolate. One of the best bourbons on the market, its sleek packaging belies its modest price point, coming in at just over $60AUD. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Woodford Reserve Master Collection pays homage to the distillery’s over two centuries of history.
Established in: 1996
Location: Versailles, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rye Whiskey
8. Jim Beam
You can’t talk about American whiskey without at least mentioning Jim Beam. The best-selling bourbon in the world, the Jim Beam White Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a veritable icon. Staying true to the same recipe for over two centuries, its sweet, fruity character is subtle notes of charred oak. It’s not fancy, and it’s all the better for it. While it can be drunk on the rocks, Jim Beam White Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon is ideally suited for highballs, whiskey sours, or in a classic whiskey and cola.
Established in: 1795
Founders: Johannes ‘Jacob’ Beam
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Notable expressions: White Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon
9. Maker’s Mark
Perhaps the black sheep of American whiskey, Maker’s Mark was founded by Bill Samuels Sr. whose unique recipe uses soft red winter wheat rather than rye (in addition to the standard corn), resulting in a smooth, sweet dram. Notably, the brand’s expressions use the spelling ‘whisky’, which nods to its founder’s Scottish ancestry. With a soft palate of vanilla, fruit, and oak, the Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky is a good place to start. For cocktail aficionados, the Maker’s 46 is a treat in an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan.
Established in: 1953
Founder: T. William Samuels Sr.
Location: Loretto, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, Maker’s 46
10. Larceny
Sitting within the same family as Pappy Van Winkle and Old Fitzgerald, Larceny nods to crime allegedly committed by a United States treasury agent who was said to have stolen several bottles of whiskey while inspecting for bond quality. While its status as a wheated bourbon often leads it to be called the “poor man’s Pappy,” Larceny is worth enjoying in its own right. The Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a vibrant palate of fruity sweetness, baking spices, and a bready quality, tempered with dried citrus and floral notes.
Established in: 2012
Location: Nelson County, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
11. Kings County
Indeed, one of the best bourbon whiskeys is produced in Brooklyn. A startup that’s managed to play with the heavy hitters, in just over a decade Kings County has become one of the most acclaimed bourbons on the market. Its experimental releases like peated bourbon, chocolate whiskey, and even grapefruit jalapeno whiskey offer something a little left-of-centre, it’s the brand’s flagship bourbons that impress. Look to the Kings County Straight Bourbon, which is a bourbon made like a scotch whiskey; using 80% corn and 20% malted barley in its mash bill, it forgoes the wheat and rye typically present to create a strong, complex spirit with notes of caramel and vanilla on the palate.
Established in: 2010
Founders: Colin Spoelman and David Haskell
Location: Brooklyn, New York
Notable expressions: Straight Bourbon
12. Westward
Inspired by the American Northwest, Westward is one of the few distilleries in the country specialising in single malt whiskey. A decidedly American take on the style, the flagship Westward Single Malt Whiskey is made with local malted barley and matured in lightly charred American Oak barrels in Oregon. Amalgamating the best of Scottish and American whisk(e)y styles, it boasts a palate of ripe stone fruits, vanilla, coconut, and honey. Other releases worth trying are the Rum Cask and Cognac Cask expressions.
Established in: 2004
Founder: Thomas Mooney
Location: Portland, Oregon
Notable expressions: Single Malt Whiskey, Single Malt Whiskey Rum Cask, Single Malt Whiskey Cognac Cask
13. Old Fitzgerald
Originally founded in 1870, Old Fitzgerald was sold by its original owners to Julian P. Van Winkle during Prohibition and is currently owned by Heaven Hill Distillery. Like Larceny, Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon with ties to Pappy Van Winkle. That fact alone makes it one of the most desirable Kentucky bourbons on the market. Named after the aforementioned United States treasury agent who was purported to have stolen whiskey while inspecting it for bond quality, Old Fitzgerald whiskey is released in batches twice a year — and sell out almost instantly. Pretty much any Old Fitzgerald bottle you can get your hands on is worth savouring.
Established in: 1870
Location: Louisville Kentucky
Notable expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Bottled In Bond Bourbon Whiskey
14. Balcones
Founded in 2008, Balcones infuses each of its expressions with a singular Texan charm. The Balcones Brimstone Texas Oak Smoked Whisky (yes, no ‘e’ apparently) is a bold expression, smoked with sun-baked Texas scrub oak for a quintessentially southern palate of sweet tea, fruit, chilli peppers, tobacco, and candied oak smoke. Meanwhile, the Balcones Baby Blue marks the first Texas whiskey on the market since the Prohibition era. It’s made with roasted blue corn which lends it a rich, viscous mouthfeel which complements its sweet palate of cotton candy, fruits, sweet tea, and smoked chilli.
Established in: 2008
Founder: Chip Tate
Location: Waco, Texas
Notable expressions: Baby Blue Corn Whisky, Brimstone Texas Oak Smoked Whisky, Texas Pot Still Bourbon
15. Blanton’s
Favoured by industry insiders and indefatigable assassins alike, Blanton’s is known for creating the world’s first single-barrel bourbon. The tradition set out by founder and master distiller Elmer T. Lee continues under the ownership of Buffalo Trace, using whiskeys selected from the centre-cut or middle sections of the distillery’s Warehouse H. Four decades later and the Blanton’s Original Single Barrel retains its signature style; a nose of soft, creamy vanilla and a hint of baking spices that opens up into a balanced palate of candied orange peel, vanilla, caramel, and oak.
Established in: 1984
Founder: Elmer T. Lee
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Original Single Barrel
16. Eagle Rare
Created by master distiller Charles L. Beam in 1975, Eagle Rare was one of the last few new bourbon brands introduced prior to a wave of premium small-batch bourbons. Representing a solid value proposition, the Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is notable for its idiosyncratic nose with notes of toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather, and oak. A dry yet delicate palate of almonds and cacao make for easy drinking.
Established in: 1975
Founder: Charles L. Beam
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky
Notable expressions: 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
17. Basil Hayden
A premium entry-level release from whiskey giant Jim Beam, Basil Hayden is a high-rye whiskey (the label is named after the eponymous rye farmer) that represents an ideal foray into the category. The flagship Basil Hayden Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is subtle, elegant whiskey with a palate of brown sugar, black pepper, and peaches. For the more adventurous, the Dark Rye is worth a try; blending Kentucky rye and Canadian rye whiskeys along with a touch of port, it’s a deep, rich offering with a nuanced palate of caramel, dried fruit, and oak with a decidedly full mouthfeel.
Established in: 1992
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Dark Rye
18. Booker’s
Another Jim Beam release, Booker’s is named after the brand’s legendary master distiller Booker Noe. Bottled uncut (i.e. at cask strength) and unfiltered, there’s no knowing what you’ll get when you order a dram of Booker’s. That said, the brand’s releases tend to lean towards the warm, sweet side. Best suited for experienced American whiskey enthusiasts who will be able to decipher its idiosyncratic character.
Established in: 1988
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Notable expressions: Bourbon
Types of American whiskey
American whiskey takes place across a broad spectrum, with the most popular types being Tennessee whiskey and bourbon. Both region and the type of grain used play a role in categorising American whiskey.
- Bourbon: perhaps the most popular style of American whiskey, bourbon is required to have a mash bill (i.e. the combination of grains used when making multigrain spirits) composed of at least 51% corn. The spirit must also be aged in new charred oak barrels, be bottled at 40% ABV (or 80 proof), and be made at a distillery in America. Bourbons labelled as ‘Straight Bourbon’ must be aged for a minimum of two years.
- Tennessee whiskey: an off-shoot of bourbon, Tennessee whiskey follows the same rules as bourbon with the added conditions that it needs to be produced in the state of Tennessee and undergo a Lincoln County Process that filters the whiskey through a thick layer of maple charcoal prior to barrel ageing. Jack Daniel’s is the most recognisable brand of Tennessee whiskey today.
- Rye whiskey: required to have a mash bill composed of at least 51% rye.
- Rye malt whiskey: required to have a mash bill composed of at least 51% malted rye.
- Wheat whiskey: required to have a mash bill composed of at least 51% wheat. This is a less common type of whiskey and typically only produced by a select few craft distilleries.
Alternatives to American whiskey
Sipped them all already? Try these.
FAQ
There is a common misconception that bourbon needs to be made in the state of Kentucky, however this is not the case, with bourbon distilleries existing across America. However, Kentucky bourbon is the home of the spirit and remains the largest producer of the style today.
The best bourbon brands in America include Woodford Reserve, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Kings County, and Elijah Craig.
Words by Henry Blake
Feature and cover images courtesy of Sasha Gitin
