It seems like everyone’s getting into bourbon these days. Whether you’re new to bourbon, stumped in a liquor store, or a seasoned veteran, this list is for you. Here’s the best bourbon that costs under $100, are actually easy to find, and taste delicious.
Have any additions to this list? I’d love to hear from you! We’re always looking for your ideas of economical and delicious bourbon bottles that cost under $100. Drop me a message on Instagram @BourbonDose if you have your own favorite additions. Now for the list.
Top 10 Bourbon Bottles That Cost Under $100
- Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
- Four Roses Small Batch
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
- Buffalo Trace
- Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength
- Wild Turkey Rare Breed
- Knob Creek 12 Year
- Redwood Empire Pipe Dream
- Evan Williams Bottled In Bond
1. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Retail Price: $68.62 (750 mL)
Woodford Reserves easily tops our list of the best bourbon for under $100. This is a classic, and a very common entry point for people who are dipping their toes into fine bourbons.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked twice-barrels its bourbon whiskey in separate, charred oak barrels. The second barrel deeply toasts the oak before lightly charring it, extracting additional soft, sweet oak character and a full-bodied flavor of vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, fruit, and spices.
The whiskey is re-barreled for a little under a year in a second virgin charred oak barrel after the initial production of Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select. The official website describes the appearance as deep amber, the nose as rich notes of dark fruit, caramel, sharp honey, chocolate, marzipan, and toasted oak, and the taste as a full-bodied mix of vanilla, dark caramel, hazelnut, apple, fruit, and spices. The finish is long and creamy with lingering hints of honeyed apple. In short, it’s delicious and one of the best bourbons for under $100.
2. Four Roses Small Batch
Retail Price: $59.98 (750 mL)
Four Roses Small Batch is a fantastic bourbon that punches WELL above its weight. It’s a bourbon bottle that costs easily under $100.We actually liked this bottle so much that we wrote a review on it (See: Four Roses Small Batch Review)
Four Roses is a bourbon brand that has been around since the 19th century. The company was founded in 1888 by Paul Jones Jr. It was named after his love for a Southern belle who wore a corsage of four roses. The brand has a rich history, and unique approach to bourbon making. Four Roses Small Batch is a blend of four different bourbons, each with its own unique recipe. The mash bill is a blend of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley, and 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. The yeast strains used are V, K, O, Q, and F, which give the bourbon its unique flavor profile.
Four Roses Small Batch is a great bourbon that is both affordable and delicious. The bourbon is light and approachable. This makes it a great choice for those who are new to bourbon or those who prefer a lighter flavor profile. The bourbon has a great mouthfeel and impeccable balance of flavors, which makes it a great choice for those who are looking for a bourbon that is easy to drink. Critics have praised Four Roses Small Batch for its great value and unique flavor profile. It is a bourbon that is definitely worth trying if you are looking for a great bourbon that won’t break the bank. Bonus points for creativity as well – people really get into the Four Roses Mashbills as well.
(See also: a really fun read on the full ranking of the Four Roses Mashbills)
3. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Retail Price: $70 (750 mL)
Elijah Craig Barrel proof is really really good and it’s getting harder and harder to find. As such, this one is a bit of an outlier on this list. Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof Batch C923, in particular, is getting snatched up by bourbon drinkers, and has won numerous accolades. This bottle should easily cost under $100, but it’s increasing scarcity might not make it so easy to find…
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a bourbon whiskey that is distilled in small batches and aged for at least 12 years in charred oak barrels. The brand is named after the Baptist preacher Elijah Craig, credited as the first person to age whiskey in charred oak barrels. The bourbon has a deep amber color and a rich aroma of caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof’s pallette contains rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper and cinnamon at the back of the palate. The finish is nicely layered showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools. The proof of the bourbon varies with each batch; past batches have ranged from 128.0 to 140.2 proof.
Critics have praised Elijah Craig Barrel Proof for its rich, complex flavor and smooth finish. According to Heaven Hill (which owns Elijah Craig), the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches are characterized by three things: a high proof point, a 12-year age statement at minimum, and flavors including leather, tobacco, chocolate and spices. Despite a lower age statement, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is out to prove age isn’t everything by releasing one of its best batches in a long time. The brand’s typical heavy and rich caramel forward nose is changed into a warmer and inviting one. Heavy cinnamon is replaced by a more complex stewed apple scent that is followed by more typical scents of nutmeg, vanilla, and oak.
4. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Retail Price: $59.33 (750 mL)
Old Forester is a great old-school bourbon that has a distinctive enough flavor that it stands out from some of the other bourbons on this list. It’s distinctiveness fantastic lineup make it easy land on this list of the best bourbon bottles under $100.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is a bourbon whiskey that is part of the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series. The brand was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Old Forester brand. The bourbon is made with a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley and is aged in new charred oak barrels for an undisclosed amount of time.
The bourbon’s mahogany color and rich aroma of dark fruit, burnt brown sugar, chocolate, and a hint of bananas characterize the flavor, with barrel char and dark chocolate playing against the sweetness of caramel and creme brulee.
5. Buffalo Trace
Retail Price: $38.99 (750 mL)
Buffalo Trace was a debatable add to this list, given the insane hype and sometimes-limited availability. But considering that even under the worst of circumstances, you should be able to get this for less than $100, it made the cut. (see also: The Reason Why Buffalo Trace Is So Hard To Find)
6. Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength
Retail Price: $40.00 (750 mL)
Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength is a bottle that every bourbon lover should have in their cabinet. Out of every bourbon on this list, it might in fact be the best pour that works equally as well for cocktails as it does for sipping. If you can’t find the cask strength, pick up a bottle of the Standard Maker’s 46. You can’t go wrong with either!
The bourbon has a bright copper color and a rich aroma of burnt caramel, charred oak, light leather, and marshmallow. Maker’s Mark 46’s flavor contains the sweetness of dark caramel and brown sugar, with bright cinnamon pushing through and carrying faint notes of summer fruits and a light drizzle of honey. The finish is sweet with fresh cinnamon bread. It ends on a dried charred oak note supported by a warming heat.
7. Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Retail Price: $66.45 (750 mL)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed is fantastic and seems to be getting more and more acclaim every year. It has earned its spot on the list of best bourbon bottles under $100. This is a great entry point into rye, as the spices in this bourbon really stick out and give you the full rye flavor we have all come to know any love. (see also: Everything You Need To Know About Rye Whiskey)
Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon is a blend of 6, 8, and 12-year-old bourbons, bottled at barrel proof.It has a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Wild Turkey, a distillery that has been around since 1940 and is located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, produces this bourbon. The bourbon has a bright amber color and a nose of caramel, toffee, orange zest, and light citrus. The palate is a sweet and spicy mix of rye spice, maple sugar, caramel, and leather. It also has a hint of sweet clementines and a tobacco, providing an extra layer of depth. The finish is sweet, with additional flavors of leather, tobacco, orange zest, and toffee weaving in and out. This showcases the layers of flavor offered by this bourbon.
Critics have praised Rare Breed for its depth and complexity. Many have also called it one of the best barrel-proof bourbons on the market.
8. Knob Creek 12 Year
Retail Price: $60.29 (750 mL)
This is the first bottle for a lot of people who are trying to find a great bourbon for under $100. Knob Creek 12 year makes aged bourbon accessible. Plus, it is easily the best pour in Knob Creek’s collection (including Knob Creek 18!).
Knob Creek 12 Year bourbon is a premium expression from the Jim Beam family of whiskeys. It was first released in 2019 as a limited edition, but became a permanent member of the Knob Creek line in 2020. As the name suggests, Knob Creek 12 is aged for 12 years in charred oak barrels. Some batches may contain even older whiskey, up to 15 years.
This bourbon has a dark amber color with a touch of red, and a rich and complex aroma of toffee, tobacco, coconut, chocolate, and oak. The taste is full of dark fruits, caramel, vanilla, licorice, cocoa, and roasted oak, with a smooth and balanced finish.
Knob Creek bottles its 12 Year Bourbon at 100 proof. It delivers a satisfying and sophisticated flavor profile that is sure to please any bourbon lover. Knob Creek is one of the few 12+ year old bourbons for under $100, and a fantastic value for its quality and age.
9. Redwood Empire Pipe Dream
Retail Price: $40.99 (750 mL)
Redwood Empire loses no points for being the only non-Kentucky bourbon on this list. It’s a bourbon bottle that easily clocks in under $100. It’s also a fantastic pour, a VERY easy bourbon to sip, comes in at an extremely reasonable price, and represents a line of bourbons that is only getting better. In the very near future, we wouldn’t be shocked if Redwood Empire begins to get pricier and harder to find.
Redwood Empire Pipe Dream represents a high-corn blend of barrels aged between 4 and 12 years, sourced from four different states. Redwood Empire Distillery, inspired by the majestic redwood forests of California, introduces its inaugural bourbon whiskey. The bourbon takes its name from the 14th tallest tree on the planet, standing at 368 feet.
This bourbon has a gold color and a mild aroma of oak, caramel, and vanilla. The taste is smooth and buttery. It has notes of roasted nuts, caramel, and oak, and a touch of spice and fruit. The finish is dry and peppery, with a lingering hint of strawberry rhubarb. Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon is bottled at 90 proof. It offers a classic and balanced flavor profile that is easy to sip and enjoy. It is one of the best bourbons for under $50, and a great choice for anyone who loves nature, amazing flavors, and whiskey.
10. Evan Williams Bottled In Bond
Retail Price: $25.66 (750 mL)
The last bourbon on this list is the cheapest, easiest-to-find, and should win every award out there for “best bottom shelf bourbon.” While it’s last on this list, it is by-far one of the best bourbon bottles under $100 you can find any day.
Coming in at a whopping $25 ($15 on a good day), Evan Williams Bottled and bond punches WAY above its weight, and is a great bourbon for literally any occasion: Sipping, cocktails, lighting on fire, etc…
Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a tribute to the original Kentucky whiskey maker, Evan Williams, who started distilling in 1783. This bourbon is made according to the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which means it is distilled in one season, at one distillery, aged for at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof. (See: What Is Bottled In Bond Whiskey?)
This bourbon has a bright gold color and a sweet aroma of vanilla, caramel, and gingerbread. The taste is smooth and buttery, with notes of oak, caramel, brown sugar, and black pepper. The finish is crisp and dry, with a touch of oak and spice. Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a classic and affordable bourbon that delivers a full-flavored and satisfying sip. It is one of the best bourbons for around $20, and a great option for cocktails or neat drinking.
A Note On Rare Bourbon
Looking for place to learn more the rare stuff? While this list of the best bourbon under $100 is great place to start, we have authored a lot of resources to help you find rare bourbon. Here’s a few places to start on your rare bourbon journey:
- List of Allocated Bourbon
- Everything you need to know about Buffalo Trace.
- Complete Guide to Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC)
