Friday is National Bourbon Day, and we’ll take any excuse to dip into a nice glass of America’s native spirit.
Bourbon is more than just something to drink that tastes good — it brings people together. Bourbon stimulates local economies by providing jobs. In February, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gushed over the fact that the state of Kentucky alone generated $9 billion in economic impact, all because of bourbon. The bourbon boom is real, and that’s because people love it.
But perhaps one of bourbon’s greatest virtues is just how versatile the spirit can truly be. For a whiskey to be classified as a bourbon, its mashbill must contain a minimum of 51% corn, it must be aged in new charred oak, distilled to no more than 160 proof and entered into the barrel at no greater than 125 proof. But once a distiller follows those rules? Anything is fair game. Mashbills, cask finishes and proof points vary, and those variables provide an incomprehensible number of options.
The following seven bourbons show a different side to this all-American spirit and extend well beyond Kentucky. From Indiana to South Carolina, these bourbons come from sleeper-hit brands that have a chance to be the next big thing.
7 Bourbons to Drink on National Bourbon Day
Whiskey JYPSI Explorer
Country music fans might be familiar with singer Eric Church’s JYPSI whiskey brand. The second release from Church, Explorer is a blend of two 6-year-old bourbons. One is a low-rye bourbon distilled in Kentucky, and the other is a high-rye bourbon made in Indiana. With a proof of 103, Explorer was distilled from a mashbill of 66% corn, 30% rye and 4% malted barley. But perhaps the most interesting thing about Explorer is its finishing process.
Explorer was finished in a barrel with staves made of American oak from the Appalachian Mountains and French oak from the Forest of Tronçais. With pleasant oak that interplays beautifully with toffee and buttercream on the nose, and a structured palate that bursts forth with orchard fruit, baking spice and sugar to follow, JYPSI Explorer is a winner. Explorer finishes with more baked apple and spice, making it a pleasant bourbon to sip all year round.
Explorer also hosts a relatively affordable suggested retail price of $69.99.
Blue Run Trifecta
Few brands have experienced a rise as meteoric as Blue Run Spirits. The brand is known for its limited releases housed in artful decanters with butterfly medallions on their necks. After Blue Run’s rapid growth, Molson Coors acquired the brand in August, marking the brewing giant’s first spirits acquisition. Trifecta is the first bourbon Blue Run released after the highly publicized acquisition.
This blend of 9-, 8- and 6-year-old bourbons was brought together under the stewardship of Blue Run Whiskey Director Shaylyn Gammon, whom the brand plucked from Wild Turkey. Trifecta stands out from Blue Run’s other offerings thanks to its age.
Dessert lovers will find Trifecta a swoon-worthy offering, with plenty of baking spice and honey on the nose. The palate is structured and balanced. With some pepper, apple butter, espresso and brown sugar, Trifecta is well-rounded. This bourbon finishes with sweet cinnamon and brown sugar.
Trifecta will be more of a splurge than the other whiskeys on this list and can be purchased directly from Blue Run for $179.99.
High Wire Distilling Jimmy Red Bottled In Bond
High Wire Distilling Co. is based out of South Carolina, and its whiskeys are meant to capture a sense of place.
The brand focuses on implementing grains that were nearly lost to history in its mashbills, and such is the case for the brand’s Jimmy Red Bottled In Bond. The mashbill of this bourbon beauty is composed of 100% Jimmy Red Corn, and the whiskey was aged for four years before being bottled at 100 proof to meet Bottled In Bond regulations.
A richly gorgeous all-day sipper, Jimmy Red Bottled In Bond has cherry pie aromas on the nose, coupled with brioche and powdered sugar-covered beignets. The palate is chock full of cherries and almonds, with cornbread. The bourbon finishes with brioche, almond, powdered sugar and cappuccino.
This Bottled In Bond offering is a lovely, upgraded version of the brand’s flagship Jimmy Red Bourbon.
Jimmy Red Bourbon Bottled In Bond can be bought directly from Highwire Distilling for $89.99.
2XO Kiawah Blend
We’re about to be heavy in the throes of summer, but what if you can’t take a vacation this year? 2XO Whiskey founder Dixon Dedman has a solution for that! He created this bourbon blend inspired by his favorite vacation spot. 2XO Kiawah Blend is named after Kiawah Island in South Carolina, which Dedman refers to as his “happy place.”
2XO is Dedman’s new project after he revived Kentucky Owl and sold it to Stoli.
This bourbon is part of 2XO’s Icon Series. Dedman names each whiskey within the series after something or someone important in his life. The Kiawah Blend is a mixture of two bourbons: one hosts a 35% rye content, whereas the other hosts a rye content of 18%. The higher-rye mashbill dominates this bourbon and was double-barreled before being finished for nine to 12 months in new charred oak barrels.
At first whiff, picture aromas of flan with cinnamon dust, soft oak, and espresso. The palate is a pleasant dance of fruit, toasted marshmallow and baking spice. 2XO Kiawah Blend finishes with oak, char, cocoa and clove. With a proof of 104, this bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $99.99.
Hard Truth Four Grain Sweet Mash Bottled In Bond
Hard Truth Distilling Co. is an up-and-coming distillery based out of Indiana known for its signature sweet mash technique. Hard Truth had already established itself as a producer to keep a major eye on thanks to its excellent rye whiskey releases, and now the distillery has begun releasing its first bourbons made with in-house distillate, including this one.
Hard Truth Four Grain Sweet Mash Bottled In Bond Bourbon is made from a mashbill of 78% corn, 9% rye, 9% wheat and 4% malted barley.
Per Bottled In Bond regulations, Hard Truth’s Four Grain Sweet Mash bourbon clocks in at 100 proof, and a bottle hosts a suggested retail price of $59.99.
With a nose of butterscotch, candy corn, nutmeg and a punchy, savory cheesecake vibe, you’ll know Hard Truth’s Four Grain Sweet Mash bourbon is something special at first whiff. The palate segues into blueberry cheesecake coupled with espresso and cola. The bourbon’s finish goes on and on, with plenty of vanilla ice cream, blueberries, cherries and pepper.
In short: don’t sleep on this one.
Shortbarrel Barrel Proof ReserveBar Single Barrel Bourbon Selection
Shortbarrel is an Atlanta Brand that was founded by a group of bourbon aficionados who one day drunkenly bumped into a barrel broker after a day drinking session on a Sunday. The brand was created through what the Shortbarrel team refers to as “inspired intoxication.” You can’t make this stuff up.
This single-barrel, barrel-proof bourbon is delicious with a capital “D,” and it makes a memorable impression. The nose is big, bold and beautiful with sweet cream, vanilla bean, pepper and clove. On the palate, expect cherries, butter cream and tobacco. This characterful bourbon concludes with a decadent dessert-driven profile, loaded with toffee, tobacco and black pepper.
This barrel pick hosts a proof of 118.6 and can be purchased from ReserveBar for approximately $80.
15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Private Stock Aged 8 & 15 Years
15 STARS is an under-the-radar whiskey blender whose star is clearly on the rise. In April, the brand made our list for the 5 Underrated American Whiskey Brands You Need to Try in 2024.
This bourbon is a Private Stock release from 15 STARS, and it was bottled at none other than Bardstown Bourbon Co. The team at 15 STARS blended 8- and 15-year-old Kentucky bourbons, and it hosts an ABV of 53.5%. 15 STARS sells this bottle for $139.
If you’re a fan of classic, oaky bourbons — you have to pick up a bottle of this stuff. With a nose full of vanilla custard, bananas foster and peanut brittle, it’s clear there’s going to be a lot going on in this pour. The palate doesn’t disappoint and leads with bold sweet oak, strawberry candies, toasted marshmallows and an herbaceous kiss of fresh mint. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon finishes with marshmallow, cherry and char.
This offering from 15 STARS is a modern classic, and we look forward to see what’s in store for this brand in the future.
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Celebrate National Bourbon Day With 7 Niche Bottles That Prove Just How Interesting America’s Native Spirit Can Be first appeared on
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