Best Bourbon Options From 2022
The best bourbons in 2022 come from Maker's Mark, Knob Creek, Four Roses, Old Forester, and more.
When it comes to bourbon, everyone has their own taste and if you are new to the drink, you may find it a little bit intimidating, as there are hundreds of different brands and styles. Thankfully, though, there is no right or wrong way to enjoy a good bourbon, as long as it is being enjoyed. With that in mind, why don’t we take a look at some of the best bourbon 2022 had to offer?
THE BEST BOURBONS FROM 2022 ARE FROM FOUR ROSES, KNOB CREEK, AND MAKER’S MARK
FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL
Price – $46.99 on Amazon.
As far as the best bourbons from 2022 go, this one is a single-barrel high-rye bourbon. Aged 8-10 years and 100 proof, Four Roses offers 10 unique bourbon recipes. The finish is smooth and long, the nose of dried spice, cocoa, pear, vanilla, and maple syrup, and the palate includes hints of cherries and ripe plums.
KNOB CREEK 12-YEAR-OLD BOURBON
Price – $65.99 on Reserve Bar.
The intent with this best bourbon from 2022 was to harken back to pre-prohibition full flavor. To make this happen, creator Booker Noe’s vision was to age his bourbon for 12 years in American white oak barrels. To get an even better flavor, these barrels are placed near the center of the Knob Creek rickhouses, making sure that the flavor of their best bourbon remains consistent.
MAKER’S MARK BOURBON
Price – $58.98 on Drizly.
Instead of using rye, Maker’s Mark bourbon uses soft red winter wheat. Maker’s Mark rates high as one of the best bourbons because instead of aging their bourbon by time, they age it by taste. To make sure they remain consistent in taste, Maker’s Mark rotates every barrel of bourbon by hand.
ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL-PROOF BOURBON
Price – $87.99 on Drizly.
If you don’t think this bourbon is one of the best, then just take a gander at what Whisky Advocate’s reviewers say, as they consistently rate this bourbon as number one in blind taste tests. Elijah Craig bottles are hand-labeled and come with their own unique batch and proof number. This best bourbon from 2022 goes down smoothly with its rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch taste with a cinnamon and black pepper finish.
OLD FORESTER 100
Price – $27.49 on Total Wine.
If you are looking for the best bourbon in 2022 with a decent price tag, then Old Forester 100 is the one not to make a dent in your wallet. According to Wine-Enthusiast, Old Forester 100 is “a full-bore Bourbon, packing bountiful sweet cornbread, cinnamon and dark chocolate, sliced by mint and fresh leather, and carried away on corn and vanilla.”
Of course, if you want to spend some cash, Old Forester also offers its Birthday Bourbon. This one is the 22nd iteration of Old Forester’s limited edition, which was created to honor and celebrate founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday. This one is going to cost, though. $1,294.99 (down from $1,500.00) on Whiskey Caviar.
HENRY MCKENNA SINGLE BARREL BOURBON
Price – $69.99 on Drizly.
This best of bourbons is highly thought of as it comes from Irish immigrant, Henry McKenna, who brought over his family’s whiskey recipe to combine with the grains found in Kentucky. The result is a perfectly balanced bourbon with notes of honey, caramel, vanilla, spiciness, and herbal flavors.
BARRELL BOURBON BATCH 032
Price – $84.99 on Barrell Bourbon.
This Barrell Bourbon is unique because it uses two sets of barrels. The first is bourbon from 5- and 6-year-old barrels that provide a creamy and tropical profile that are combined with 6-,7-, and 10-year-old barrels. These barrels were slowly blended over a three-month timeframe to come up with this amazing bourbon.
BOURBON IS CONSIDERED AN AMERICAN WHISKEY
According to the American Bourbon Association, bourbon is defined as a type of American whiskey that is produced with at least 51 percent corn, while also including grains such as wheat, malted barley, and rye. Bourbon can only be aged in new oak barrels and is not allowed to have any flavor additives or coloring.
NEW BARRELS, STORAGE, AND ADDITIVES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN CHOOSING THE BEST BOURBONS FOR 2022
There are a number of factors that make bourbon the drink that it is. To create the drink, a number of regulations and standards surrounding the crafting of bourbon come into play before it can hit the shelves. These are the things to consider when looking for the best bourbon from 2022.
New Barrels – One of the most important regulations necessary when crafting a nice bourbon is the requirement of new charred oak barrels. The importance of these new barrels is that they allow for better aging of the bourbon as well as the color characteristics of the drink. Because the crafting of bourbon calls for no artificial coloring or flavoring, the new barrel is extremely important for the maturation of the bourbon.
Barrel Storage – Believe it or not, airflow is a key contributor when it comes to crafting a great bourbon. While many other whiskeys are stored standing up on pallets or simply on the ground, bourbon barrels are stored on their side in ricks or rickhouses, which allows for better airflow.
Naturally, no additives – This is another key requirement when it comes to crafting bourbon. While many other types of whiskeys allow for coloring and additives, bourbon is all-natural, not allowing for any additives at all.
The Bourbon Recipe – As mentioned above, bourbon consists of at least 51 percent corn, which is what gives the drink its somewhat sweet flavor. To give a particular bourbon a more complex taste, oftentimes distillers will add grains such as rye, wheat, and malted barley.
Aging Conditions – Temperature is another key element in the bourbon-making process. The extreme changes between summer and winter temperatures are great contributors to the aging process of good bourbon. The sometimes-drastic changes tell the bourbon how to react with the oak barrels.
Hopefully, we have pointed you in the right direction when it comes to finding the best bourbon, but let’s not kid ourselves, as we stated earlier, everyone has their own taste, so if your personal favorite didn’t make our list, let us know which one soothes your palate.
Everyone also has their own budget, which means there are a number of bourbons on the market that can break the bank.
So, go on and grab your favorite bourbon glass, pour yourself a nice taste of your best bourbon, sit back, relax, and enjoy it. You survived 2022 and things can only get better, right? Here’s to hoping – cheers.
