As a true lover of bourbon, the bourbon culture, and the larger whiskey business, I truly appreciate when non-spirits focused media turn their attention to the world of bourbon. 247wallst.com recently released a "Special Report" outlining the "25 Best Bourbon in the US Right Now". Some key parts of the article and of interest here:
According to IBISWorld, there are an astonishing 740 whiskey and bourbon distilleries in the United States as of 2022, an uptick of more than 15% from the previous year, and they’re all jockeying for position on the shelves at your local liquor store as well as in your liquor cabinet.
25) Booker's Bourbon 2021 Batch 3 (Bardstown Batch)
24) Bomberger's Declaration (Michter's)
23) Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon 101
22) Dettling Small Batch Six Grain Bourbon
21) Stellum Bourbon
20) Russell's Reserve 13yr
19) Blue Run 13.5yr Barrel #3 "Honey Barrel"
18) High West A Midwinter Night's Dram
17) Jack Daniel's 10yr
16) Michter's Single Barrel 10yr
15) William Larue Weller
14) 2021 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch
13) Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit SiB
12) Blantons Straight From the Barrel
11) Peerless Double Oak Bourbon
10) BTAC 2021 Eagle Rare 17yr
9) Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon
8) Woodinville PX Sherry Cask Bourbon
7) Heaven's Door Redbreast Master Blender's Edition
6) Barrell Craft Spirits Bourbon Aged 15yr
5) George Dickel Bottled in Bond, Spring 2007
4) Old Fitzgerald BiB 8yr Spring 2021
3) Michter's 20yr Bourbon
2) Little Book Chapter 5: "The Invitation"
1) Double Eagle Very Rare
On the Whiskey Row Podcast Episode 4, we dive into many of the issues with this list, including why include a single rye whiskey (HW MWND) leaving others out. Does the author make the mistake of thinking HW MWND is a bourbon or is it's inclusion due to his perception it is such an amazing rye whiskey. Additionally, many on this list are finished bourbons which in some ways may also be a separate list from traditional non-finished bourbons.
That said, here is a better list in line with my current think as of this writing. For details on why, check out Episode 4 of the Whiskey Row Podcast.
25) Knob Creek 12yr
24) Smoke Wagon Uncut/Unfiltered
23) Makers Mark FAE-02/special releases
22) Remus Repeal Reserve V
21) Old Fitzgerald BiB 11yr
20) Sam Houston 14yr
19) Elmer T Lee
18) Four Gate (Kelvin Collab III/selected bottles)
17) Blanton's From the Barrel
16) Michter's Single Barrel 10yr
15) Jack Daniel's 10yr
14) W.L. Weller 12yr
13) Russell's Reserve 13yr
12) Michter's Toasted Barrel
11) Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch/special releases
10) Old Forester Birthday
9) Wild Turkey Master's Keep Decades
8) Parker's Heritage Heavy Char/special releases
7) Pappy Van Winkle's 15yr
6) George T Stagg
5) A Smith Bowman Sweet 16/special releases
4) Pappy Van Winkle's 20yr
3) Michter's 20yr Bourbon
2) William Larue Weller
1) Michter's Sour Mash Celebration
To reduce redundancy, I eliminated duplicates I just included some or all of their sibling products. For example A. Smith Bowman "Sweet 16" is just the best of a long line of A. Smith Bowman special releases all of which could have been considered at various places on the list. That is how I see it as of this writing, but as it is with bourbon, taste changes!