4 Bourbon Whiskies You’ve Probably Never Tried (But Really Should)

As regular readers of the blog will know, it’s primarily Scotch that we deal with here at Great Drams. With that said, however, that certainly doesn’t mean that that’s all we focus on.

Despite Scotch being my tipple of choice, I’m also partial to a fine bourbon, especially in the summer when I’ve got the barbeque fired up and am not sheltered from the rain. Here in the UK, bourbon is obviously not as big as it Stateside, but there’s definitely a market for it, and demand is growing.

Obviously, we have Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, and Maker’s Mark, along with Tennessee whiskey such as Jack Daniel’s, but for any bourbon drinkers there’s a wealth of different drams out there just waiting to be explored.

To help show you the endless possibilities that await all you keen bourbon lovers out there, here are 4 bourbons you’ve probably never tried (but really should).

Barton’s 1792 Full Proof

Barton’s 1792 Full Proof is one of the most vastly underrated bourbons out there in my humble opinion.

Non-chill filtered, and bottled at a throat-warming ABV of 62.5%, I can easily see why this dram has won numerous awards, including Double Gold for Small Batch Bourbon up to 5 Yrs at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Rich, full-bodied, intense, and complex, this is what a full proof bourbon should taste like. There’s oak, maple, and burnt honey on the nose, tied together with salted caramel, toasted oak, toffee apples, and smoked oak flavours.

The finish is lengthy, rich, buttery, and lightly spicy.

Four Roses Small Batch Select

Up next is another hidden gem that’s the brainchild of Brent Elliot, the Master Distiller of Four Roses.

Four Roses Small Batch Select comes in at a more than hefty 52% ABV, yet it is deceptively smooth. I also love the light copper colour, which looks great in the streamlined bottle.

This is a bourbon that’s perfect for those who like their drams on the sweeter side. On the nose it’s heavy on the fruity notes, with banana bread, candied cherries, and vanilla oak all shining through.

On the palate, ripe summer make their presence felt, complimented beautifully by peaches, burnt orange, and apricot marmalade. There’s also more than a suggestion of vanilla clotted cream custard.

The finish is medium and lingers, leaving behind a sweet, sugary taste. There’s a definite spicy kick to it, and I’m certainly not mad about that.

Angel’s Envy

What I love about Angel’s Envy bourbon, is the fact that they’re not afraid to try different things. When you think of aging bourbon, you generally think of bourbon casks, that’s the whole point. Angel’s Envy, however, is different.

This particular dram undergoes a finishing process in Port wine casks. Being partial to a good port, that’s music to my ears. More often than not, bourbon distillers stick to bourbon casks. They want the whiskey to do the talking, and that’s great. Sometimes, though, it pays to try something new, which is exactly what Angel’s Envy have done.

Coming in at a tingly 43% ABV, those port notes are heavy on the nose. There’s dessert wine berried, orange, buttery croissant, and cinnamon toffee apple.

On the palate, more of the bourbon notes shine through. There’s maple syrup, oak, vanilla, baking spices, burnt sugar, and ripe summer berries.

The finish is fairly short and leaves a heavy impression of dark chocolate, red grapes, dates, raisins, and pink peppercorn. Is there any oak there? Hmm, maybe. Just a tad.

Blanton’s Original Single Barrel

Finally, if you enjoy bourbon and you really want to treat yourself to something special, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel is the tipple for you.

This Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery helps to highlight the complexity of bourbon and shows just how amazing it can be.

I love the bottle, especially the miniature metal horse and jockey on the lid. It looks more like a work of art than a bottle of whiskey. If it didn’t taste so amazing you could happily ogle this copper chestnut coloured delight for hours.

On the nose there’s pecan and maple pie, cinnamon, nutmeg, and buttery shortbread with a touch of toffee apple.

On the palate, more toffee and maple notes immediately punch through. There’s candied citrus peel, grated orange zest, creamy malt, sweet oak, and warm apple and cinnamon pie to start. These gradually fade, making way for more pronounced flavours, including balsamic strawberries and cracked black peppercorns.

The finish is so, so smooth it’s almost unbelievable. This is a dram you could sip for hours. Each mouthful is smoother and creamier than the last, despite the 46.5% ABV. There’s sweet raisins, vanilla, charred oak, orange, and sugared almonds, all with amazing mouthfeel.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: Bourbon Whiskies

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.