Best Bourbons at LCBO

Last Updated on: 18th April 2024, 05:59 pm

J Highland

J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.

This guide, created with the assistance of Bourbon expert Neil Coleman and customer feedback, aims to reveal the top bourbons at LCBO, Canada’s leading online liquor retailer, known for a wide range of classic and innovative spirits.

Written by: J Highland

Best Bourbons at LCBO: A Comprehensive Guide

This list offers a variety of bourbons at the LCBO to suit different preferences and budgets:

Value-Conscious Options:

Wild Turkey 101: Great value, punches above its weight. Sweet and spicy with a long finish. (101 proof)
Old Tub: Budget-friendly gem with Jim Beam DNA. Baking spice, oak, brown sugar, and a hint of rye spice. (100 proof)

Crowd-Pleasing Choices:

Buffalo Trace: Smooth and balanced with notes of caramel, vanilla, and baking spice. (90 proof)

Top Contenders:

Four Roses Single Barrel: Rye spice meets sweet bliss with notes of cherry, honey, and baking spice. (100 proof)

Single Barrel Delights:

Knob Creek Single Barrel: Surprisingly approachable with a sweet and spicy harmony. Butterscotch, vanilla, and oak with a hint of roasted peanuts. (120 proof)

For a Richer Take on a Classic:

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: Sweeter and richer than the original with notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and espresso coffee. (90 proof)

Sweet & Easygoing:

Michter’s: Sweet cherry aroma with hints of caramel and oak. Smooth and creamy with a butterscotch finish. (91.4 proof)

Unique Flavors:

Angel’s Envy: Intriguing with notes of coconut, chocolate, maple syrup, and baking spice. Lighter bodied with a toasted oak finish. (86 proof)

Creamy & Spicy Gems:

Baker’s: Jim Beam single barrel with a creamy texture. Baking spice, caramel, and oak with a long finish. (107 proof)

For True Connoisseurs:

Booker’s: Uncut and bold with notes of vanilla, tobacco, and leather. Rich and complex with a warming cherry finish. (126 proof)

Bold & Sweet:

Barrel Proof Bourbon: Intensely warming with notes of coconut, vanilla, and spice. Best enjoyed neat. (120 proof)

Selection Process:

Compiled from the LCBO Catalog, focusing on solid bourbons.
Selection criteria include personal preferences, customer feedback, and online trends.
Unfavorable brands are excluded.

Remember:

These are recommendations. Taste is subjective!
Consider trying samples or smaller bottles before committing to a full-sized one.
Explore beyond this list to find your own favorites!

Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Quick Look at the Top Bourbons at LCBO

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Bourbon	Price
Wild Turkey 101	$42
Old Tub	$45
Buffalo Trace	$45
Four Roses Single Barrel	$57
Knob Creek Single Barrel	$72
Woodford Reserve Double Oak	$77
Michter’s Bourbon	$90
Angel’s Envy	$97
Baker’s	$105
Booker’s	$130
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof	$130

Wild Turkey 101: Bourbon’s Sweet Spot (Great Value)

Nose: Oak, honey, caramel, vanilla
Palate: Vanilla, brown sugar, baking spice, mint
Finish: Long, charred oak, old leather
Alcohol content: 101 proof (55% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Wild Turkey 101 punches above its weight. This affordable bourbon balances sweetness and spice, offering a complex yet approachable profile that leads to a satisfying finish. Expect a rich taste with a moderate burn, rivaling pricier options. Whether enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails, Wild Turkey 101 is a clear winner for value-conscious bourbon drinkers, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.

Old Tub: Budget-Friendly Gem with Jim Beam DNA

Nose: Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla
Palate: Baking spice, oak, brown sugar, roasted peanuts
Finish: Rye spice, oak
Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Old Tub punches above its weight for the price. Despite 100 proof, it avoids a harsh ethanol scent. Expect a welcoming aroma of cinnamon, vanilla, and caramel. The taste is smooth and creamy, offering baking spices, oak, brown sugar, and a hint of roasted peanuts – a familiar Jim Beam note. The finish is low in warmth with lingering rye and oak.

Here’s the secret: Old Tub shares its mash bill and proof with Knob Creek (from Jim Beam) but with two key advantages. Bottled in bond and unfiltered, Old Tub offers a unique twist on the Jim Beam profile at a much lower price. This makes it a top choice for budget-conscious bourbon lovers who enjoy a touch of spice.

Buffalo Trace: Smooth & Balanced Bourbon

Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, baking spice, cereal
Palate: Caramel, vanilla, oak, espresso coffee, chocolate
Finish: Vanilla, baking spice, oak
Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
How to drink: Neat

Buffalo Trace charms with a delicate nose of caramel, vanilla, and spice. The taste is smooth, featuring baking spices, fruit, and oak, balanced by vanilla and caramel. The finish lingers with warmth and spice, making it a crowd-pleasing bourbon experience.

Four Roses Single Barrel: Rye Spice Meets Sweet Bliss (Top Contender)

Nose: Baking spice, cherry, vanilla, honey
Palate: Cinnamon, rye spice, vanilla, honey
Finish: Medium, caramel, baking spice, cinnamon
Alcohol content: 100 proof (50% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Four Roses Single Barrel offers a delightful journey for your senses. Expect a nose of baking spice, cherry, and honeyed vanilla. The rye spice takes center stage at first sip, but transforms into a sweet and complex profile featuring fruit, honey, vanilla, and a touch of oak.

The creamy texture and medium-finish with warming spice make it ideal for sipping. Despite the initial kick from the rye, the 100-proof expression offers exceptional value and stands out as a top contender among single-barrel bourbons.

Knob Creek Single Barrel: Sweet & Spicy Harmony (Surprisingly Approachable)

Nose: Fruit, maple, caramel, vanilla, roasted nuts
Palate: Nuts, fruit, baking spice, vanilla, oak
Finish: Caramel, spice, oak
Alcohol content: 120 proof (60% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Knob Creek Single Barrel packs a flavor punch that’s surprisingly approachable. The aroma entices with maple syrup, vanilla, and a hint of alcohol. The taste is buttery and warming, offering a balanced profile of nuts, baking spice, vanilla, oak, and Jim Beam’s signature roasted peanut note. The long finish lingers with cinnamon, vanilla, and oak spice.

This high-proof bourbon is surprisingly easy to drink neat, but a touch of water reveals brown sugar notes and softens the oak. Overall, Knob Creek Single Barrel delivers a harmonious experience that’s both sweet and spicy.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked: Sweeter, Richer Take on a Classic

Nose: Oak, butterscotch, vanilla, brown sugar
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, old leather
Finish: Long, vanilla, butterscotch, espresso coffee
Alcohol content: 90 proof (45% ABV)
How to drink: Rocks, cocktails

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked builds upon the original’s success with a richer, sweeter profile. Expect a delightful aroma of oak, caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. The taste is buttery smooth, offering warmth, familiar flavors of vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar, alongside hints of leather and charred oak. The finish is long and luxurious, lingering with notes of vanilla, butterscotch, and a touch of espresso.

This satisfying bourbon is perfect for those seeking a richer take on the classic Woodford Reserve.

Michter’s: Sweet Cherry Bourbon for Everyday Enjoyment

Nose: Cherry, caramel, baking spice, oak
Palate: Plum, maple honey, baking spice, charred oak
Finish: Medium-length, butterscotch, oak spice
Alcohol content: 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Michter’s bourbon leans on the sweeter side with a dominant cherry aroma and hints of caramel, spice, and oak. The taste is smooth and creamy, featuring plum, maple honey, baking spice, and subtle oak. The finish is decent in length, with minimal warmth, butterscotch, and a touch of oak spice.

This approachable bourbon, reminiscent of Dr. Pepper, lacks overwhelming complexity and makes for a great “everyday whiskey.”

Angel’s Envy: Intriguing Bourbon with Maple & Spice Notes

Nose: Coconut, chocolate, vanilla
Palate: Bread, maple syrup, caramel, vanilla
Finish: Toasted oak, baking spice
Alcohol content: 86 proof (43% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Angel’s Envy carves its own path in the bourbon world. The aroma is unique, featuring coconut, chocolate, and vanilla. The taste is smooth and light-bodied, offering a burst of maple syrup, caramel, vanilla, and baking spices, preceded by a hint of red wine-like spiciness. The finish is long and sweet with lingering toasted oak and spice notes.

While a higher proof might improve its body, Angel’s Envy remains a delightful and intriguing bourbon, perfect for those seeking something different.

Baker’s: Creamy & Spicy Jim Beam Single Barrel Gem

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, peanut, oak
Palate: Baking spice, caramel, vanilla, oak
Finish: Long, oak spice, caramel
Alcohol content: 107 proof (53.5% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Baker’s stands out as a top single barrel bourbon from Jim Beam. Expect a warm aroma of caramel, vanilla, peanut, and oak. The taste is creamy and warming, offering baking spice, caramel, oak, and Jim Beam’s peanut note. The finish lingers with warmth, oak spice, and caramel. This 107-proof bourbon surpasses the Small Batch option, and each bottle provides unique details like barreling date and age for an exceptional experience.

Booker’s: Uncut & Bold Bourbon for True Connoisseurs

Nose: Vanilla, oak, leather
Palate: Vanilla, tobacco, stone fruit, caramel
Finish: Cherry, oak
Alcohol content: 126 proof (58% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Booker’s cuts straight to the chase with a powerful aroma of vanilla, leather, tobacco, and oak. The taste is equally assertive, with a robust body that mellows to reveal intricate notes of vanilla, tobacco, fruit, caramel, spice, and a hint of peanut. The finish is warming with lingering cherry and oak.

This uncut bourbon is perfect for those who appreciate bold flavors. Rich in vanilla, tobacco, and leather with balanced caramel sweetness, it avoids excessive sugar. Enjoy it neat for the full experience, with a touch of water or a single ice cube to tame the intensity and unlock its hidden layers.

Barrel Proof Bourbon: Bold & Sweet Heat (Exceptional Neat)

Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel
Palate: Spice, coconut, vanilla
Finish: Spice, oak, caramel
Alcohol content: 120 proof (60% ABV)
How to drink: Add water

Barrel Proof bourbon packs a punch on the nose, with oak leading the way followed by vanilla, caramel, and a touch of alcohol. Don’t let the high proof scare you – the taste is full-bodied and intensely warming, but surprisingly smooth. Coconut, vanilla, brown sugar, and spice create a complex profile. The long finish continues the warmth, offering sweetness alongside floral and oak spice notes.

This bourbon shines neat, where the heat is balanced by floral tones and robust brown sugar. Ice tames the intensity, but the flavor profile truly comes alive neat, making it a great choice for those who enjoy bold bourbons.