The 14 Best Bourbons for Beginners (2024)

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Corn, Fruit

Knob Creek is part of Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. This 9-year-old bourbon is a great place to start for anyone interested in the category. You will get a bit of oak on the palate here, but nothing that overpowers the classic flavors of vanilla, caramel and dried fruit. This bourbon works as well in a co*cktail as it does sipped in a glass neat.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Spice, Cherry, Chocolate

Carlos Lopez, bar manager of Stiltsville Fish Bar in Miami Beach, recommends trying Four Roses’ Single Barrel expression. “It has a smooth and long finish, which provides the perfect entrance to anyone knocking on the Bourbon Trail’s front door,” he says. While bottles will vary based on what barrel they come from, Four Roses is consistently a good choice.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 50.5% | Tasting Notes: Oak, Spice, Vanilla

Given its higher proof and low price, Wild Turkey 101 is an excellent budget entry into the bourbon category. Don’t be put off by the ABV, because this whiskey backs up its heat with a complex palate and smooth finish. Wild Turkey is a classic for a reason, and while the brand has many other expressions to try, we recommend starting with the 101.

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Region: Kentucky | ABV: 45.2% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Molasses, Pepper

Woodford Reserve is a really high quality sipping bourbon and an easy entry point for the whiskey newcomer. That’s because the palate of this bourbon is sweet and soft, with just a bit of spice lingering in the background. The proof is just high enough to augment the flavors without creating an overly hot sipping experience.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Apple, Spice, Oak

“Old Forester must be the best bang for your buck, so if it turns out bourbon is not your thing it’s no big deal,” says Chris Keller, bartender at Osaka Ramen in Denver. “It’s an authentic bourbon with excellent flavor. Take a sip, then add an ice cube to feel the flavor develop.” There are a variety of expressions with different ABVs, but the 100 proof version is one of the best.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Orange, Honey

“Eagle Rare goes down smooth and leaves awesome light caramel, toasty notes that make you feel loved,” says Katsumi Yuso Ruiz, bartender and co-owner of Curio Bar, Roger's Liquid Oasis and Brass Tacks in Denver. This bourbon, made by the Buffalo Trace Distillery, is aged for at least 10 years. It might cost a little more than other bottles, but who says bourbon beginners don't deserve the quality stuff?

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Region: Kentucky | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Baking Spice, Vanilla, Butterscotch

Basil Hayden’s is another entry in Jim Beam’s Small Batch Collection. The higher amount of rye in the mash bill gives this bourbon a spicy kick that goes well with its sweet character. “I would choose Basil Hayden’s as a good beginner bourbon,” says Bryan Walls, lead bartender at Barnsley Resort in Adairsville,Ga. “It’s only 80 proof so it’s not too hot. It’s very smooth and easy drinking. I prefer it served on the rocks with an orange slice.”

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 46.85% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Oak, Ripe Fig

“1792 Small Batch from Bardstown is a whiskey that drinks higher than its price tag,” says Mike Vacheresse, owner of Travel Bar in Brooklyn, N.Y. The term “small batch” doesn’t really have a defined meaning other than the batch of barrels used is smaller than for other expressions from the same distillery. Whatever size the batch is, this bourbon is a good place to begin your bourbon journey.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Anise, Vanilla, Orange

“The best bourbon for beginners is Buffalo Trace,” says Shannon Tebay, head bartender at the American Bar at The Savoy in London. “It’s bottled at 90 proof, giving it enough structure to stand up in a co*cktail without being so boozy that it’s unpleasant on its own, especially with an ice cube or two. Its high percentage of corn in the mash bill (estimated at around 80 to 90%) results in a whiskey that has a lot of structure, relative sweetness, and lower spice factor compared to bourbons with higher rye contents. This combination of factors makes it extremely user-friendly for drinkers who are new to the category.”

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 47% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Dried Fruit, Spice

“[Legent] is a lesser-known bourbon that blends Japanese techniques and traditional Kentucky bourbon,” says Joshua Lopez, bar manager at Osaka Nikkei Miami. “It’s finished in sherry and red wine casks, and its tart notes lend to a beautiful finish on the rocks or in an Old Fashioned.” The bourbon is made at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 57% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Pepper, Tobacco

This budget bourbon from Jim Beam is a fantastic way for the novice whiskey drinker to dive into higher-proof spirits. Old Grand-Dad 114 clocks in at 114 proof, as indicated by the name, which is high but not overpoweringly so. This higher proof, along with the high rye mash bill, allows the complex flavors of this bourbon to shine—and makes it a good choice for co*cktails.

Region: Nevada | ABV: 45% | Tasting Notes: Caramel, Brown Sugar, Vanilla

Frey Ranch is a newer craft distillery located in Nevada, making grain-to-bottle whiskey on a family farm. The bourbon is made from a mash bill of four grains—corn, wheat, rye, and barley—all grown locally. While some craft bourbon can read a bit young and woody on the palate, this whiskey tastes fully mature and carefully produced. Anyone new to the category who would like to give a craft product a try should sample this bottle.

Region: Kentucky | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Corn, peanut, caramel

Fans of Heaven Hill’s original six-year-old bottled-in-bond bourbon were sad to see it retired a few years ago, but the new-look bottle, now a seven-year-old bourbon, is very good too (although more expensive). Heaven Hill is a longstanding Kentucky distillery that makes whiskey under other labels like Elijah Craig and Evan Williams. For the newcomers, the bottled-in-bond designation means the whiskey is at least four years old, bottled at 100 proof, and comes from one distillery and one distilling season.

• Region: Tennessee/Indiana
• ABV: 45.2%
• Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Maple, Apricot

Belle Meade is a product of Nelson's Green Brier Distillery in Nashville, which sources its whiskey from MGP in Indiana. “It’s an incredibly well-balanced bourbon with a bit of complexity, thanks to the higher percentage of rye in the mash,” says Alex Jump, bar manager of Death & Co in Denver. “The youngest age (of the bourbon in the blend) is at least 6 years old, so it’s got lovely notes of vanilla, cola and biscuits. Great for mixing in co*cktails but also completely wonderful over an ice cube.”

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