The craft of bourbon-making is riddled with rules and regulations, but being from Kentucky isn’t one of them. It’s true! Bourbon can be produced anywhere in the U.S., so why limit your sips to a single state?
Kentucky's rich bourbon heritage is undeniable. However, bourbon enthusiasts might be surprised to learn that this iconic American spirit can be legally produced throughout the US! This opens the door to a world of unique flavor profiles and distilling techniques.
Forget limiting yourself to a single state - we've curated a list of nine exceptional, must-try bourbons, all crafted with passion and expertise beyond the traditional boundaries.
High West Distillery in Utah was founded by a former biochemist, so we guess you could say that they have the art of whiskey distillation down to a science (ba dum tss). Thick and rich on the palate, this 93-point rated (Source: The Tasting Panel) bourbon features a thought-provoking blend of 2-year, 6-year and 13-year aged barrels. If you’re looking to put your senses to the test, look no further: this bourbon’s tasting notes include everything from candy corn to lemon zest to sweet cornbread biscuits.
Pop quiz: what type of barrels MUST whiskey be aged in to earn the honor of being called bourbon? If you answered new American white oak barrels, you’re correct...but that doesn’t mean you can’t finish it in a different type of barrel for that certain je ne sais quoi. This bourbon that was created by California winemakers and, thus, is finished in French oak casks that once housed cabernet sauvignon. Don’t get it twisted, this isn’t a whiskey that tastes like wine; the cab casks simply impart a richness that makes this 95-point rated (Source: The Tasting Panel) bourbon truly one-of-a-kind.
They say everything’s bigger in Texas, including flavor. This small batch Texan tipple benefits from the state’s scorching, dry heat by absorbing as much flavor as possible from the barrel during aging. According to the Garrison Brothers website, the bourbon cycles through the wood’s pores and crevices as it matures, soaking in the sugars from the sap, resulting in fruit-forward tasting notes of orange blossom honey, pears, peaches and candied pecans with a rich, smooth, creamy caramel finish.
Named after the elite team of Green Berets who were inserted into Afghanistan on horseback in the days following 9/11, this bourbon is distilled in Columbus Ohio and bottled right here in the Sunshine State by real American heroes. Even without the badass backstory, this Double Gold Medal winning (2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition) holds its own. Expect flavors of vanilla, honey, toasted corn, caramel and a hint of spice.
We even traveled to the Urban Stillhouse Restaurant & Bar, Horse Soldier’s Florida base, to learn how to nose, taste and analyze bourbon like a pro. Check it out in the video below!
Another stellar pick close to home, St. Augustine Distillery’s straight bourbon delivers notes of caramel, dark fruit, oak, baking spices and dark chocolate. ABC guest rspell said it beautifully in their review on our site: “Don't try to compare this with other bourbons. The mash bill (including Florida ingredients) is very different and it tastes like it. I like it neat. It's well done. I expect more great things from these guys as they have time to age some of this spirit for a longer time.” Talk about a uniquely Floridian tasting experience!
Inspired by the magnificent, towering redwood forests in this distillery’s backyard, Redwood Empire’s whiskeys are sustainably produced in Sonoma County and brimming with woodsy flavor. Pipe Dream is a rich, deep and complex sipping or mixing bourbon with a blend of 4- to 12-year-old barrels and an impressive 94-point rating from The Tasting Panel. Come for the entry tasting notes of roasted pecan, vanilla and lingering char; stay for the spicy black pepper finish.
If you prefer your whiskey on the sweeter side, you’ll want to add a bourbon with a high corn mash bill to your shelf, like this straight bourbon whiskey from WhistlePig in Vermont. It performs beautifully in cocktails, making it a bartender’s delight, but this 6-year aged bourbon with a 90-point nod from Whisky Advocate is a treat to sip neat as well.
Whether celebrity endorsements turn you on or off to spirits labels, you can’t deny when good juice is good juice. And Brother’s Bond, created by The Vampire Diaries co-stars Paul Wesley and Ian Somerhalder, is some good juice. Produced in Indiana, this 93-point rated (Source: The Tasting Panel), high-rye bourbon whiskey is like a warm hug of rich spice with an elegant, complex finish that is not to be missed. Learn more about Brother’s Bond Bourbon and the founders here.
All the best bourbons have a story, but Clyde May’s says it has a legend. Clyde May was a law-skirting Alabama moonshiner who was born to a single mother just before the Great Depression. Clyde’s family keeps his adventurous spirit alive in this 94-point rated (Source: Wine Enthusiast) bourbon that features a compelling dialogue between spicy gourmand and juicy fruit notes. Complex, but not pretentious; elevated, but still firmly rooted in bourbon’s blue-collar, down-home tradition.
Hear more of Clyde’s story from brand ambassador (and Clyde’s grandson!) L.C. May in our Sip & Spill video with him below.
