It is no secret that the American Whiskey market has been booming for several years. According to a report issued by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, exports of bourbons, Tennessee whiskey, and rye whiskey reached $975 million in 2021, up 15% from the prior year.

New expressions from existing and new distilleries are available almost every week, making it harder to discern between marketing and authentic bourbon. The following whiskies bring different experiences to the table and are worth trying. All three are easy to drink and affordable bourbons.

Blade & Bow ($)

Blade & Bow is a blend of straight bourbons bottled at 45.5% ABV. The exact mash bill is unknown. Some bourbons in this blend are from Stitzel-Weller Distillery, and others are from non-disclosed distilleries.

From the website:

“Named after the two parts of a skeleton key, the blade shaft, and the ornate bow. The Blade and Bow brand is a tribute to the five keys that once hung on the door of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. These keys represented the five steps of crafting bourbon—grains, yeast, fermentation, distillation, and aging”

Key Feature(s)

• Fractional blending using a Solera system combines young whiskies located at the top of the scale (a.k.a. The Nursery) with older whiskies in the middle rows and the oldest whisky in the bottom row (The Solera) to create a consistent flavor profile with greater complexity than that of the individual bourbons. However, the percentage of Stitzel Weller distillate used in the Solera is unknown.
• The flavor profile is fruity (i.e., Peaches), caramel, and vanilla. Not overly complex, but easy to sip and fun.
• Ideal for cocktails. The bourbon has enough weight to provide the core flavor to an Old Fashioned.

Target Audience: This bourbon might not score high points with the connoisseurs, but it is not supposed to be a highly complex bourbon. Give this one a try and enjoy it.

Elijah Craig Small Batch ($)

Elijah Craig is a brand that needs no introduction. The famous Baptist reverend has been put on a pedestal by the marketing machine of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, erroneously crediting him as the first one to make bourbon.

According to Heaven Hill Distillery, a warehouse fire accidentally charred the inside of the barrels intended to hold whiskey before shipping. Craig, determined to save money, decided to use these anyways and discovered, by pure chance, the unique flavor profile that a charred barrel provides to bourbon.

The story is not true but works so well for Heaven Hill that it’s an essential part of their marketing and storytelling. The Elijah Craig brand started in 1986, and the distillery was founded in 1934. Associating a brand with a historic Kentucky figure like Craig makes total sense to romanticize the past of the southern whiskey region. In reality, the practice of barrel charring most likely came from the French, who used charred oak to mellow their brandies. Merchants from Louisville learned and applied the technique to their barrels for aging their bourbons.

The term Small Batch does not have a legal definition. Distilleries use the term to indicate that the bourbon comes from a limited number of barrels after a distilling run. However, the law does not define the number of barrels in a “small” batch.

The Small Batch version with no age statement replaced a very popular Elijah Craig 12 Years old, which Heaven Hill decided to discontinue and use in the Parker’s Heritage release. The mash bill is 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye and bottled at 47% ABV (94 Proof).

Key Feature(s)

• The flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, and oak dominate the experience. A classic and straightforward bourbon.
• Although there is no age statement on the label, the distillery provides a range between 8 and 12 years.
• The most affordable of the three bourbons and probably the highest value for your money.

Awards: 

• Double Gold at the 2021 San Francisco Spirits Competition.
• Best Small Batch Bourbons 2018.

Target Audience: Anyone new to the bourbon category. A true classic!

Weller Special Reserve ($$)

This Kentucky Straight Bourbon from the iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery belongs to the range of highly sought-after wheated bourbons such as W.L. Weller Antique, W.L. Weller 12 Years, W.L. Weller Full Proof, etc. Weller Special Reserve is the most common of the Weller range, but it is now harder to find in retail stores because of its wheated mash bill and its association with collectible bourbons like Pappy Van Winkle. The mash bill is wheated but not disclosed, and the alcohol strength is 45% ABV (90 Proof)

Key Feature(s)

• The Special Reserve’s flavor profile has a soft palate with caramel, honey, and oak spices. The wheat does a great job smoothing and rounding the flavors. The spice from the oak becomes more pronounced at the end for a rich and warm finish. Weller Special Reserve is a well-rounded bourbon and very easy to enjoy neat.
• Although there is no age statement on the label, the distillery provides a range between 4 and 7 years.

Target Audience: This bourbon is a crowd-pleaser. Beginners and Connoisseurs alike love this bourbon as an everyday sipper.

These bourbons might not meet everyone’s flavor expectations, but that is acceptable because they offer three different experiences. Perhaps, one of these bourbons might suit your palate as you enjoy it neat, with water, on the rocks, or in the form of a cocktail. Only you get to decide how to enjoy your bourbon. Cheers!

If you would like to check out W.L. Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon click here: https://thewhiskyknights.com/top-5-whiskies-holidays/    

If you would like to check out the highlights of my visit to Heaven Hill click here: https://thewhiskyknights.com/heaven-hill-whiskey-distillery-review/

Don’t forget to follow my Instagam account for pictures and stories related to whiskies and distilleries from around the world.

Legend

$50 or less $

$51-$100 $$

$101-$150 $$$

$151 or more $$$$