Best Bourbons Under $50
#5 Old Grand Dad 114
Kicking off the top 5 rankings is Old Grand Dad (OGD) 114. This is an excellent pour produced by Jim Beam and is widely known by whiskey enthusiasts as a top-tier bottle that doesn't get a lot of hype. An interesting note about the Old Grand Dad brand is that it was created by Raymond B. Hayden and named for his Grandfather, Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., the same person the Basil Hayden brand is named for. Other bottlings of OGD include an 80-proof and 100-proof bottled-in-bond which is also considered a fantastic budget bottle. OGD uses a high-rye mashbill and is generally considered a cinnamon-forward profile. There have been rumors in the past about Beam discontinuing this product but it has ultimately survived those, thankfully!
Stats: NAS (rumored 4-6 yrs); 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 4% Malted Barley; 114 proof; $30
Verdict: I just recently learned that this is technically bottled at barrel-proof due to Beam's process of producing this whiskey which is different from the other OGD and Basil Hayden products. That being said, it definitely drinks like a barrel-proof bourbon but not overbearing. It may be a little much for a newbie but an experienced whiskey drinker could handle this on their palate easily and possibly perfect for someone looking to get into higher-proof or barrel-proof bottles. As stated earlier, it's definitely baking spice-forward, particularly cinnamon. But it is well-balanced with earthy notes of oak, nuts, and grassy flavors. There are light hints of sweetness but they don't play much of a role. If you prefer sweeter profiles, this probably isn't for you but if you like a challenge and bold, earthy, spicy flavors you are going to fall in love with this! And for $30, it's the cheapest bottle on this list and a steal at that price! Grab this one up and share it with your friends! This will be your new secret bourbon weapon to impress your friends!
#4 - Four Roses Single Barrel
With the exception of their limited edition release in the fall/winter every year, Four Roses is one of the six major distilleries that really flies under the radar a bit in the bourbon world, if that's even possible. The core lineup that whiskey drinkers are after though - Single Barrel, Small Batch Select, and Single Barrel Barrel Proof is an incredibly solid, well-priced group of products. And if you're unaware, Four Roses produces 10 different bourbon recipes. They do this with 2 different mash bills - 1 high rye and 1 low rye - and 5 different yeast strains. For more information on the recipes and how to read a Four Roses label, here is a great post: https://lostcargo.com/article/how-to-identify-four-roses-single-barrel-recipes-by-their-bottle-labels/
Back to this bottle and its place on the list. coming in at number 4 (how appropriate) on the best bourbons under $50 is Four Roses Single Barrel. Now, I mentioned the 10 different recipes but this bottle is always produced with the same recipe, OBSV. This is the "B" mash bill which is the high-rye one and yeast strain "V" which is described as "Delicate fruit, spicy, & creamy." It is always produced at 100 proof as well.
Stats: NAS (rumored 6-7 yrs); OBSV recipe 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley; 100 proof; $45
Verdict: I find that I typically gravitate to the E recipe (low rye) of Four Roses but this bottle is really good and always really consistent! The "extra" rye provides a great balance between the sweet fruit and spicy components that add complexity to the pour. Typically, you will find a sip of this nature to flow from sweet to oak to spicy in that order based on how your taste buds are constructed in your mouth (more on that another time). This one literally "hits different." The rye spice is the first thing I notice but it transitions to a honey and fruit combination. You won't notice a lot of oak here but it is present. A long finish ends this delightful sip. You want a bottle that you can always find, afford, and know will be great? This is it. Go get it.
#3 - Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Straight Bourbon
About the Distiller: For the casual bourbon fan, this might come as a bit of a surprise that Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBC) lands a bottle in the top 5. You may them as a newer craft bourbon distiller known for their Discover, Fusion, or Collaboration series that either finish or blend mostly sourced whiskey and bottled under their name. BBC has done this while the majority of their own distilled stock ages. And unlike many other newer distilleries that may only wait 2,3, or at most 4 years, BBC let theirs age a full 6 years before releasing. The series mentioned above, especially the Fusion series, is why they were able to do this. They sourced higher-aged whiskey and "fused" it with their lower-aged distillate for the last several years and put out some very high-quality stuff. One other quick note, BBC is probably no longer considered a craft distillery. They are pumping out as much stock as anyone in the industry today. They are now a major player in contract distilling (they distill and sometimes age) for other brands. At last check, they produce 50 different mash bills for 30 different brands! They have quadrupled production since 2016 and are now a top-10 volume producer in the country. Last year they announced they were growing production by 50% by 2024 with a nearly $30M expansion. Also, as of last year (2022), they now own Green River Distilling. To say the least, they're growing! Having visited and driven by their facility in Bardstown many times, you can see it - they are constantly adding new rickhouses. They are on the cusp of making the Big-6 distillers (Buffalo, Turkey, Brown-Forman, Beam, Makers, Roses) a Big-7.
This Origin Series was released earlier this year as BBC's first 100% produced under their own label. There are three different products under the Origin Series: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Bourbon, and a Straight Rye Whiskey. The series was distributed to 24 different states and available through online retailers so you may or may not have this available to you but I would anticipate BBC to expand distribution shortly.
Stats: 6 years old; 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley; 96 proof; $45
Verdict: I love everything about this bottle. I love the transparency BBC puts on their labels with the age and mash bill makeup. I love the profile of this which is different than any of the others. There's a creaminess to this from the nose and the palate that once I sip, I'm reminded of a homemade peach ice cream. I also have notes of sweet hard candy like Nerds, bigger dry oak than you would expect from a six-year-old bourbon, and light rye spice. While the palate is sweet, it's not overbearingly sweet and there is less spice than would be anticipated from a high-rye mash bill but it provides a nice balanced backdrop to the unique flavors. The finish isn't a burn as much as it is a lingering spice on the back of the palate with more dry oak, leather, and vanilla. An all-around fantastic pout that I really hope I can keep on my shelf at all times. This is now in the auto-buy category for me because of it's uniqueness. And if BBC isn't on your radar yet, go out and find some of their stuff...now!
#2 - Maker's Mark Cask Strength
Maker's Cask Strength comes in at number two in the rankings! A wheated bourbon bottled from the barrel without being proofed down. This is simply regular 90-proof Maker's Mark at cask strength. Though the proof point is lower than many might expect from a cask strength product but that is due to Maker's process of a lower barrel entry proof than most other distillers. This is technically a batch product and there could be slight differences between batches but I've found it to be very consistent from batch to batch. While Maker's product line may not be as extensive as other distillers, their focus on consistency is unmatched. The founding principles and vision of Bill Sr. & Margie Samuels are very much alive today. If you take a tour or visit the distillery you will find how committed the entire company is to the vision of the founders.
Stats: NAS (typically 6-7 yrs); 70% Corn, 16% Red Winter Wheat, 14% Malted Barley; 110 proof; $49
Verdict: The mash bill for Makers is very similar to other popular wheated bourbons (ahem...Weller) and Maker's has always used Red Winter Wheat. If you don't know the full story, check it out on their website but essentially Bill Sr. tested mashbills by baking bread to identify which wheat strain and percentages was best to use. Bill Sr's vision was to create a bourbon HE wanted to drink that was "neither bitter nor sharp." And boy did he succeed. Most people assume a wheated mash bill is going to be soft, sweet, and "smooth." However, at proofs around 110 and higher, it can get quite spicy (or hot). Not the case here. I hate to use the word "smooth" to describe a whiskey, because it generally means there's not much flavor at all and not necessarily a good thing, but even if I did I wouldn't characterize this as smooth. It's definitely got great flavor to it with the traditional Maker's sweetness upfront of caramel, vanilla, and dark fruits. Hints of bread and honey. Not much oak to it and only slight baking spice which adds a nice balance. Not overly complex but is a great drinking bourbon that executes its best qualities at an extremely high level!
#1 - Michter's Small Batch
Claiming the top spot as best bourbon under $50 is Michter's Small Batch. Michter's has a long and storied history as a whiskey brand. Beginning in Pennsylvania in 1753, it operated until 1990, minus the time it had to close for prohibition. At the time of its closing in 1990, it was the oldest distillery in the country. The brand was revived in the mid 2010's and they officially opened the Fort Nelson Distillery in Louisville, KY in 2019. The "US*1" on the bottles represents Michter's claim as the county's first whiskey company. And while you may be familiar with their spectacular limited releases: 10-year-old bourbon and rye, Toasted Barrel finishes, and 20+ year age statement bottles, you really need to check out their everyday lineup of US*1 bourbon and rye. This bourbon is truly a small batch, with only 20-ish barrels blended in each batch.
Stats: NAS (supposedly 8 yrs); 79% Corn, 11% Rye, 10% Malted Barley; 91.4 Proof; $45
Verdict: During the blind tasting there was one glass that stood out to me as "different." It tasted older and had some uniqueness to it. Turns out, it was this bourbon. While the overall rankings were close, this one had the defining characteristics to make it the best. There's an interesting cedar note on the nose and palate that balanced with the sweet brown sugar and caramel sweetness makes for a delicious combination. You get hints of leather, dark fruits, and toasted sweet oak. The finish will be appealing to the masses. It's medium to long with very little burn but leaves behind some spice, oak, and leather that are warming without melting your insides.