The Best Bourbons of 2025 Are All Under $100

Somehow, bourbon just keeps getting better. Kara Newman, a Wine Enthusiast writer at large who reviews spirits and RTD cocktails, called 2024 “the golden age of bourbon,” but 2025 has seriously upped the ante.

Not only are all of our top-rated bourbons this year under $100, but they also all have bold, flavorful expressions, making them excellent choices for both sipping or mixing. “They were complex and balanced, and each was striking in its own way,” says Newman. “A lot of excellent bottles didn’t make the list just because we didn’t have space for more than a handful. The ones that made the cut just had a little more to say.”

While all of these craft bourbons are quite different, there are a few noteworthy trends, such as unique cask finishes and an emphasis on heirloom grains.

“I’m also seeing more deep-dive work around the grains used to build the mash,” says Newman. “Bourbon is required to be made with at least 51% corn, but that can be an heirloom Jimmy Red or a local blue corn.”

As a bourbon-making refresher, the spirit starts with the mash bill, a k a the “recipe” of grains in the mix, which must contain at least 51% corn. The other 49% can be any other grain: wheat, rye, oats, quinoa, etc. It can even be 100% corn. (Rye, on the other hand, must be made with at least 51% rye grain.)

Newman is particularly excited by the work Brother’s Bond is doing with regenerative grain, which is produced using agricultural practices that promote soil health and biodiversity.

“The remaining 49% of the mash bill merits attention, too,” Newman adds. “Wheated bourbons, which use wheat as a secondary grain, are having a moment. Tattersall’s 6-year-old, made with Minnesota red wheat, is on the Top 100 list, as is Stonestreet’s Founder’s Edition.”

We made a point this year to make sure all of the bourbons on our list were accessible–and not just from a price perspective. “We made a conscious decision to skip over super-limited-edition bourbons that are nearly impossible to get. It seemed like an unfair advantage, when many more accessible bourbons had similar scores.”

For a surprisingly diverse assortment of bottles, check out our best-rated bourbons of 2025.

Wine Enthusiast recommends:

Blackletter Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Vanilla and caramel on nose and palate are followed by plenty of cinnamon and cayenne sizzle. Adding water coaxes toasted brioche and crunchy sea salt, while a brush of dark fruit shows up on the finish. Distilled in Indiana. Aged 2 years. 96 points — Kara Newman

$55
Shop Wine Direct

Dragon’s Milk Beer Barrel Bourbon 101

Vanilla and almond aroma, alcohol tickles the nose. Hops dominates, followed by dark chocolate, espresso into long finish. Bold flavor even with plenty of water. Clove and black pepper on the tingly exit. Limited release. Bourbon finished in Dragon’s milk stout barrels. Best Buy. 96 points — K.N.

$130
Cask Cartel

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Bourbon

This is a four-grain bourbon, aged four years. The deep russet hue and rich caramel and vanilla bean aromas entice. The first sips show deep toffee and red fruit notes, and a splash of water coaxes hazelnut and a fleeting fresh fig note. The overall effect is deep, rich and complex. Best Buy. 95 points — K.N.

$38
Total Wine

West Fork Whiskey Hugh Hamer Double Oaked

Look for a noticeably deep amber hue with bright highlights. The lush palate suggests dried cherry rolled in cocoa powder, winding into a long, drying finish accented with walnut, leather and oak. 95 points — K.N.

$57
Taster’s Club

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Bluegrass Distillers Toasted Oak Small Batch

Aged four years, then 30 days in toasted oak barrels. The end result is concentrated toffee on nose and palate, leading into a drier midpalate marked by oak, leather and black tea, plus a hint of dried apricot. The long finish is punched up with plenty of cinnamon and cayenne glow. 94 points — K.N.

$65
Total Wine

Brother’s Bond Regenerative Grain Bourbon

Made with regenerative grain and aged at least three years. Expect mellow vanilla on nose and palate. Cayenne tingle and allspice meld with espresso bitterness on the long, warming finish. 94 points — K.N.

$65
The Barrel Tap

Center Stave Port Cask Finished Bourbon Cask Strength

Bottled at barrel strength, this is a bold, substantial bourbon. A toasted almond scent leads into a rich, velvety palate. Red fruit sparkles with clove and cinnamon, winding into a nutty finish. A curl of lemon peel sets the mouth watering. Best Buy. 94 points — K.N.

$45
Total Wine

Stonestreet Bourbon Whiskey Founder’s Edition

A wheated bourbon aged five years, this bourbon has a pleasing cookie dough scent. The palate opens drying and spicy, showing off lots of cayenne and cinnamon fireworks, before fading into smooth vanilla. Hints of toasted almond and mocha mark the lip-smacking finish. 94 points — K.N.

$65
Shop Wine Direct

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Tattersall 6 Year Wheated Bourbon

A blend of corn, Minnesota red wheat and malted barley, aged six years, this brisk bourbon has a particularly, rich, bold caramel aroma that leaps out of the glass the minute it’s poured. The bold palate shows leaner flavors: oak winds into espresso spiked with clove, anise and caraway. 94 points — K.N.

Inquire with producer

Wheel Horse Double Oak 5-Year Bourbon

“Double oak” means it’s aged in new oak, then finished in new charred barrels. The result is bold, rich toffee aromas and a drying palate that shows plenty of oak, espresso and cocoa nibs, plus a long clove finish. Aged five years. Limited edition. Best Buy. 94 points — K.N.

$39
De Wine Spot

Woodinville Bourbon

Overall this is a light, fresh bourbon. Vanilla and sarsaparilla wind into a long, toasty finish showing plenty of baking spice, honey and oak, sassed up with a burst of cayenne. Best Buy. 94 points — K.N.

$40
Wine.com

More Top 100 Spirits Coverage

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