Good bourbon doesn’t should break the bank. A number of the greatest bottles we’ve reviewed to this point this yr fall squarely below the $100 mark, proving that wealthy taste and cautious craftsmanship are nonetheless accessible. Whether or not you’re trying to improve your house bar or attempt one thing new with out overspending, these seven standouts supply severe worth.
From cult favorites to lesser-known gems, listed here are the very best bourbons below $100 we’ve tried (and cherished) in 2025.
As Phil Dwyer put it in his assessment, “The primary sip of this can flip you into Al Pacino – plenty of ‘Woah!’” Uncommon Breed is a barrel-proof traditional that doesn’t maintain again. Made with a high-rye mash invoice, it delivers huge, daring taste, from Coca-Cola and brown sugar on the nostril to butterscotch, licorice, and spice on the palate. The end is lengthy, balancing savory oak and sweetness in a method few bourbons handle. “You possibly can’t be and not using a bottle of this if you happen to like bourbon,” Dwyer concluded. We agree.
Aaron Knapp approached this with skepticism. Maple syrup barrel ending might’ve gone sticky candy. However he was blown away. Awarding it a uncommon 10/10, he praised the stability between syrupy richness and spice. Anticipate caramel on pink apple, cinnamon, molasses, and tangerine, with a lingering, smoky-sweet end. It’s daring, it’s uncommon, and it really works. As Knapp put it, “The consequence was particularly spectacular.”
Jade Cox known as this “a terrific all-rounder,” and it’s straightforward to see why. Michter’s US*1 affords a sophisticated tackle small batch bourbon, with a mellow however layered profile. On the nostril: honey, vanilla, brown sugar, and milk chocolate. On the palate: golden syrup, dried mango, oak, and a flicker of spice. It’s easy, flavorful, and approachable, supreme for brand new drinkers, however satisfying sufficient for seasoned bourbon followers too.
This small Tennessee distillery could also be younger, however it’s already turning heads. Leiper’s Fork Bottled-in-Bond impressed Phil Dwyer with its complexity: a nostril stuffed with inexperienced apples, peach, recent bread, and bubble gum, adopted by a palate of vanilla, peanut brittle, and orange oil, with a flicker of habanero spice. The sweeter end rounds it off with baked vanilla and mushy oak. It’s not low cost, however for a real small-batch bourbon with daring character, it earns its place.
I first tasted Angel’s Envy Port Cask End on the distillery in Louisville, and revisiting it a yr later, I discovered it simply as compelling. Completed in ruby port casks, it’s candy and easy, with vanilla, apricot, plum, and a refined contact of toasted oak. The port affect is current however restrained, including a mushy layer of fruit and spice with out overwhelming the bourbon’s base. It’s approachable however has a pleasant degree of complexity. A type of pours that feels equally suited to rookies and seasoned drinkers alike.
Named for Louisville’s historic whiskey hall, Whiskey Row Bottled-in-Bond is a considerate, layered launch that leans extra on finesse than fireplace. Charles Steele famous pineapple, apricot, lemongrass, and mint on the nostril, adopted by cocoa, almonds, seared wooden, and corn on the palate. The end is easy and refined, with pine nuts and candied cherry. “A pleasant journey via some extra dense flavors than I anticipated,” Steele wrote, and one value taking once more.
Blanton’s helped launch the only barrel bourbon motion again in 1984, and it stays one of the vital sought-after bottles at this time. Phil Dwyer’s 2025 assessment described it as fruit-forward and superbly layered: orange, peach, and caramel paved the way, adopted by spicy oak and traditional vanilla. This specific barrel leaned closely into peach, giving it a juicy, virtually tropical twist. Whereas value and availability stay points, it’s exhausting to disclaim that Blanton’s continues to be a scrumptious bourbon with an unmatched legacy.
