Last Updated on: 16th April 2024, 07:38 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.
Top Bourbons Below $100: A Connoisseur’s Delight
Written by: J Highland
With the assistance of whiskey expert Neil Coleman and valuable customer feedback, I have assembled a list of the top Bourbons for less than $100.
Top Whiskeys for less than $100 for Every Use and Taste
- Barrell Vantage: This innovative blend balances toasted notes with classic bourbon characteristics, making it a standout option under $100.
- Bomberger’s Declaration: Known for its creamy body and a touch of bitterness that brings balance, enhancing its rich and complex profile.
- Old Forester 1920: A beautifully balanced bourbon, despite its high proof, offering an approachable yet flavorful experience.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: Delivers bold flavors with surprising smoothness for its 130 proof, ideal for those who appreciate a full-bodied bourbon.
- Belle Meade: Offers a combination of sweetness and spice, making it a must-try for its quality and distinct rye influence.
- Noah’s Mill: Known for its complexity beyond the initial heat, perfect for those who enjoy bolder, nuanced spirits.
- Rare Breed: Combines creamy texture with rich sweetness and well-defined oak spice, offering great value for a high-proof bourbon.
- 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 Best Bourbons under $100
Prices are approximate and stated in USD:
| Bourbon | Price |
| Barrel Vantage | $90 |
| Bomberger’s Declaration | $99 |
| Old Forester 1920 | $65 |
| Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | $88 |
| Belle Meade Cask Strength | $69 |
| Noah’s Mill | $75 |
| Wild Turkey Rare Breed | $59 |
Barrell Vantage: A symphony of oak and spice
- Nose: Oak, cherry, cinnamon, crème brûlée
- Palate: Baking spice, sandalwood, bright flowers, toasted oak, coffee
- Finish: Long, charred caramel, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 114 Proof (57% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Barrell Vantage offers a delightful nose of oak, cherry, cinnamon, and crème brûlée. The palate is luxuriously oily, exploding with baking spice, sandalwood, toasted oak, espresso, and subtle florals. The finish lingers with charred caramel, oak spice, and a pleasant warmth.
This innovative blend skillfully balances toasted notes, florals, and classic bourbon characteristics, making it a remarkable value for under $100, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Bomberger’s Declaration: Nutty Delight with a Balancing Bitter Touch
- Nose: Peanuts, cinnamon, oak
- Palate: Vanilla, chocolate, peanuts, cinnamon, oak
- Finish: Baking spice, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 108 Proof (54% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Bomberger’s Declaration opens with a nutty aroma of roasted peanuts alongside cinnamon and toasty oak. The creamy body on the palate carries these notes forward, introducing vanilla and chocolate for a richer experience. The finish offers a pleasant warmth with baking spice, but a subtle bitterness emerges.
A touch of water can tame this bitterness, allowing the other flavors to shine. Overall, it’s an impressive bourbon where a touch of bitterness brings balance to the sip, making it rich, complex, and surprisingly smooth for its high proof.
Old Forester 1920: Sweetness and Spice in Perfect Harmony
- Nose: Caramel, banana, spice, ethanol
- Palate: Brown sugar, vanilla, caramel
- Finish: Medium, cinnamon, caramel, oak, spice
- Alcohol content: 115 proof (57.5% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Old Forester 1920 entices the nose with a sweet, rich aroma of caramel, banana hints, rye spice, and a subtle touch of ethanol. The creamy palate explodes with vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and nutty notes, all delivered with a noticeable yet pleasant warmth. The medium-length finish is dry and warm, leaving a delightful trail of cinnamon, caramel, oak, and a gentle whisper of spice.
Despite its high 115 proof, this bourbon strikes a beautiful balance between abundant flavor and approachability. While the finish may not linger forever, it offers a thoroughly satisfying experience with a perfect blend of sweetness, warmth, rich oak character, and a clean aftertaste.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: Bold Flavors, Remarkable Smoothness
- Nose: Oak, vanilla, caramel
- Palate: Spice, coconut, vanilla
- Finish: Long, spice, oak, caramel
- Alcohol content: 130 proof (65% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water, rocks
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof greets the nose with a robust presence of oak, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, and a touch of ethanol. This high-proof (130 proof) bourbon defies expectations by offering a surprisingly smooth and full-bodied palate. Pleasing spice notes mingle with flavors of coconut, vanilla, and brown sugar, creating a well-rounded flavor profile. The long, warm finish leans towards sweetness with a touch of floral and oak spice, leaving a lasting impression.
This uncut and unfiltered bourbon is a remarkable achievement, showcasing bold flavors without sacrificing smoothness. Adding ice can temper the warmth for those who prefer a gentler experience, but the core excellence of this bourbon remains undiminished. A must-try for Elijah Craig enthusiasts and anyone seeking a full-flavored, uncut bourbon experience.
Belle Meade: Sweet & Spicy with Rye Kick
- Nose: Marshmallow, cookie dough, vanilla, oak
- Palate: Molasses, brown sugar, baking spice, rye spice
- Finish: Long, cherry, oak
- Alcohol content: 112 Proof (56% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Belle Meade offers a subtle nose of marshmallow, cookie dough, vanilla, and oak. The palate explodes with sweetness and spice, mingling molasses, brown sugar, baking spices, and rye. The oily texture leads to a dry finish with lingering cherry and oak notes.
Surprisingly smooth despite its high proof, this rye-heavy bourbon is a must-try for its quality and value.
Noah’s Mill: Beyond the Heat Lies Complexity
- Nose: Marshmallow, cookie dough, vanilla, oak
- Palate: Molasses, brown sugar, baking spice, rye spice
- Finish: Long, cherry, oak
- Alcohol content: 112 Proof (56% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Noah’s Mill starts with a punch of ethanol that mellows into dark fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, and oak. The creamy palate is warm but pleasant, offering roasted nuts, citrus, cinnamon, burnt caramel, and hints of oak. The long finish brings comforting sweetness with burnt caramel, dark fruit, and a touch of oak.
Water tames the heat, boosting sweetness and nuttiness. This complex and intriguing bourbon is perfect neat or on the rocks, rewarding those who enjoy bolder spirits.
Rare Breed: Sweet & Spicy Harmony
- Nose: Vanilla, caramel, oak
- Palate: Baking spice, burnt sugar, vanilla, oak, old leather
- Finish: Vanilla, old leather, oak char
- Alcohol content: 116 proof (58% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
Rare Breed entices with a rich honey nose laced with cinnamon, charred oak, and a subtle ethanol hint. The palate is creamy and warm, bursting with butterscotch, brown sugar, vanilla, and oak. The medium-to-long finish lingers with warmth, vanilla, old leather, and Wild Turkey’s signature char.
Despite its high proof (116), sweetness and balance reign supreme. This value-driven bourbon offers a delightful harmony of creamy texture, rich sweetness, and well-defined oak spice.
What do the best bourbons under $100 have in common?
A good bourbon is sweet and smooth with a balanced and complex flavor profile, often with prominent vanilla or caramel flavors, complementary hints of various spices, chocolate, cherry, oak, tobacco, or leather, and doesn’t burn.
The noise is usually complex, with aromatic notes of various types, including sweet, fruity, floral, spicy, woody, and grainy.
The texture of the best bourbons is also a distinguishing characteristic, with a heavier texture and richness of lushness to the mouthfeel.
They are versatile and can be drunk neat, diluted with ice or water, and even used to make cocktails.
Historically, the top bourbons come from Kentucky, although others are catching up and producing great pours.
The water source (limestone-filtered) is fundamental for producing great bourbon as a well of a mash bill that uses first-quality ingredients.
How to Choose a Good Bourbon Under $100
- Flavor Profile: Consider what flavors you enjoy – whether it’s the sweetness of vanilla and caramel or the spice of rye.
- Occasion: Some bourbons are better suited for sipping neat, while others excel in cocktails.
- Proof: Higher proof bourbons often offer more complexity but may need water or ice to open up the flavors.
- Brand Reputation: Well-known brands often provide a consistent quality, but don’t overlook smaller distilleries.
- Aging: Longer aging typically imparts more oak and vanilla flavors to the bourbon.
- Personal Preferences: Ultimately, your taste preference should guide your choice. Whether you prefer a smooth, sweet bourbon or one with a spicy kick, there’s something for everyone in this price range.