Keep reading to find out the best bourbons under $100. What is bourbon? How is it made? It is a very interesting topic and now Insider Monkey has published an article about it.
Before we get to the list of the best bourbons under $100, we should explain what bourbon is and what factors justify its high price-tag. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, so it’s an across-the-pond relative of scotch. However, in the U.S there are many types of whiskeys, like corn whiskey (made from mash containing at least 80% corn), and rye whiskey (mash contains at least 51% rye). Bourbon is made from mash that contains at least 51% corn and it usually comes from Southern States, in particular Kentucky. The only exception is Tennessee, which developed its own type of whiskey: Tennessee whiskey, which tastes similar to bourbon, though the production process differs through something called the Lincoln County Process, which involves filtering the drink through charcoal before putting it in barrels.
So, what makes a good bourbon worth the high price? First of all, you should check out the distillery and the brand owned by it. Then you should check out the age. Also, a premium bourbon will often be labeled “single barrel”, which means that each bottle will have some distinctive notes specific to the barrel it came from. Finally, some types of premium bourbon come from small-batches, and while this makes them more desirable, it may also be difficult to find them in stores.
Now without a further ado let’s see what Insider Monkey has investigated for us. We have picked two bourbons from their list. The first one is Willett Pot Still Reserve, its price is $35. The bottle housing Willet Distillery’s Willett Pot Still Reserve has a nice shape (like a decanter or a pot still), so only for its look it deserves a place on a shelf. However, the taste doesn’t disappoint either. The bourbon has a slightly sweet honey and caramel taste with hints of vanilla and oak. Bottled at 94 proof, Willett Pot Still Reserve is perfect to be enjoyed neat or with some ice. The secong one is Elijah Craig Small Batch, its pirice is $36. Elijah Craig Small Batch is sourced in small batches of bourbon aged between eight and 12 years. The bourbon is a successor to Heaven Hill Distillery’s 12-year bourbon that had been around from 1986 until 2016. However, the company pointed out that its stock of 12-year-old barrels had been under pressure as the demand had gone up, which is why they removed the 12-year-old statement. The bourbon has a sweet aroma with hints of oak and leather and a taste with a slight spiciness and oak. It’s not very complex, but paying less than $40 for a bottle of well-aged bourbon is worth it.
For any further interesting information read Insider Monkey’s article about 10 best bourbons under $100.
