Ready to revamp your whiskey game in 2024? We’re talking about a whiskey bucket list stacked with top-tier bourbon, all budget-friendly and easy to find. Everything on this bucket list is tried and true, and based on both old classics and new bottles that emerged as top pours in 2023 – and show potential to carry on that promise into 2024.
Honorable Mentions
2023 was a year of bourbon highlights, but not all of the bourbons that emerged last year will make it onto our list for 2024. Here’s a few of those honorable mentions:
One of the most acclaimed bourbons of 2023 was Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon, which won the “Best in Show” award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This 10-year-old bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillery is the only extra-aged bottled-in-bond single barrel bourbon available, and it offers a rich and buttery flavor profile with a smooth finish.
Another standout bourbon was Booker’s 2023-01: Charlie’s Batch, named after the woodworker who designed the wooden boxes for Booker’s releases. This barrel-proof bourbon from Jim Beam has a potent and complex nose, with notes of clover, white nectarine, caramel, chocolate, and oak.
For those who prefer a softer and sweeter bourbon, W.L. Weller Special Reserve was a great choice. This wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery has a smooth and mellow taste, with hints of vanilla, honey, and spice.
Finally, one of the most surprising bourbons of 2023 was Woodinville Whiskey Company Straight Bourbon, which came from Washington state. This bourbon is made from locally grown corn, rye, and malted barley, and aged in charred new oak barrels. It has a balanced and flavorful character, with notes of caramel, dark fruit, and wood smoke, and earns an “honorable mention” for this whiskey bucket list.
Top 10 Whiskeys for your 2024 Bucket List
- Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon
- Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
- Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
- E.H. Taylor Small Batch
- Four Roses Small Batch
- Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year Old
- Maker’s Mark 46
- Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select
- Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
Whiskey Bucket List Tasting & Notes
Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon
This American classic has been aged for at least eight years and balances a symphony of spicy and sweet with undertones of fruit and caramel. Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon, an 8-year-old American whiskey, strikes a balanced mix of flavor profiles, making it a preferred choice for whiskey enthusiasts that want to branch away from the traditional Kentucky blends without sacrificing quality.
Fair Price: $61.75
Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon
The 10 year age statement on this bourbon is a winner. Notably acknowledged for its smooth character, Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon brings to the fore a high-standard straight whiskey. The whiskey delivers a refined, clean finish, and delivers a balanced flavor profile. You can’t go wrong with this bottle.
Fair Price: $64.38
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
“ECBP” has won lots of awards recently and is the chatter of the whiskey community. Characterized by its exceptionally balanced taste, Elijah Craig is reminiscent of warm spices, subtle smoke, and sweet molasses – a perfect bottle for anyone stepping into the world of small-batch bourbons.
Fair Price: $99.59
Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old Bourbon
Bottled at 90 proof, this robust Russell bourbon excites the palate with notes of toffee, fruit, and a bit of smoke – a commendable mid-shelf bottle for bourbon lovers.
Fair Price: $78.20
E.H. Taylor Small Batch
This bourbon is highly-rated, delicious and a perfect example of Buffalo Trace’s famous Mashbill #1. This bourbon hints of caramel and vanilla with a mellow complexity. This is a phenominal sipper and one of our favorites. This bottle is also allocated, so jump on it if you see it for a reasonable price. (Read our E.H. Taylor price guide here)
Fair Price: $96.00
Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses is a rich, smooth bourbon with spicy flavors contrasting with sweet oak and caramel notes. (Read our complete review on Four Roses Small Batch here)
Fair Price: $62.91
Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year Old
Aged for nine years, this bourbon offers a sweet, woody flavor with a rich, full body, a perfect sipping companion.
Fair Price: $52.67
Maker’s Mark 46
Known for its balanced soft and smooth taste, Maker’s Mark 46 stands a head and shoulders above all Maker’s Mark products. It imparts a unique character from aging in French Oak barrels, is easily accessible, and absolutely worth the extra price over regular Marker’s.
Fair Price: $50.52
Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select
Stepping into the upper echelon of easily accessible bourbons, we encounter the classic Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select. True to its Kentucky roots, this bourbon is crafted with a balanced mix of corn, barley, and rye, impressing bourbon lovers with its subtle mix of dried fruit, vanilla, and toasted oak. The taste enthralls with a medley of cocoa, spicy cinnamon, creamy vanilla, and sweet caramel. Its full-bodied flavor, coupled with a silky-smooth texture, rounds out your drink nicely.
Fair Price: $52.99
Eagle Rare 10 Year Old
A high-quality bourbon that spotlights the perfect balance of sweet, oak, and herbaceous notes. Eagle Rare’s age statement goes a step above Buffalo Trace, and it shows. This bourbon is a fantastic sipper, and a star in cocktails.
Fair Price: $42.39
Elijah Craig’s Small Batch remains a personal standout on this whiskey bucket list, with its undeniably warm spice and subtle smoke sync that overlays a sweet molasses taste. Meanwhile, the robust Russell’s Reserve 10-Year-Old pours out an unforgettable taste structure that beautifully harmonizes toffee and fruit notes against a touch of smoke.
Although these are personal favorites, bear in mind the poweful draw of the bourbon landscape lies within its diversity. Let your taste buds be the explorer while remembering the words of Mark Twain: “too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
Happy hunting in 2024!
