The Bourbon Resource Awards: Dec. 2024
The Bourbon Resource bestows awards in 10 categories
Happy Holidays, and welcome to the Bourbon Resource Awards newsletter.
While many awards acknowledge a single bourbon as a best of class, The Bourbon Resource takes a different approach and categorizes the best by price points.
Why price point? That’s what readers want to see. What’s expensive? What’s special? What’s a value? All can help inform what makes an outstanding everyday drinker and what’s a special gift.
You can see a full list of The Bourbon Resource 2023 winners here.
This year, we have a Rye whiskey that made the list. As readers know, I’m not a big Rye fan, but this one, noted in the $55-$70 price point, is the best I’ve ever tasted, a sourced bourbon from the Ohio distillery A.M. Scott. I’ll have a full review in the new year. [1] Now, on to this year’s awards. Please consider sharing with friends.
DISTILLERY BRAND OF THE YEAR
15 Stars Distillery, Bardstown, KY
Thinking through this award was tough. Should the distillery of the year be a company that distills, ages, and bottles its bourbon? If that’s the case, there would be a limit to which brands could be recognized. On the other hand, many outstanding bourbons source their product, which is more common today.
We elected for the latter, which is why 15 Stars won Distillery of the Year. The distillery obtains its bourbon from sources in Kentucky and Indiana, though we don’t know where (though Indiana is often code for MGP). It doesn’t matter because 15 Stars’ 11 bourbons have all been recognized by various publications for their outstanding whisky. Our favorite is the 15 Stars finished in Sherry casks, a blend of 10 and 13-year bourbons bottled at 115 proof. Its dried fruit, toffee, raisin, and caramel make this a smooth drinker with a long finish. At $179.99, it’s pricey, but this is worth a splurge. Other excellent distillery products include Three Kings ($179.99), First West ($139.99), and Private Stock ($139.99). These are all limited-quantity releases, so if you find a bottle you like, grab it.
BEST ULTRA PREMIUM BOURBON: $199 and up
Russell’s Reserve 15
Wild Turkey Distilling Co. MSRP $250.
Last year, Russell’s Reserve 13 won in the best premium category. Wild Turkey has produced yet another excellent bourbon at a price point that, sadly, continues to grow with products many can’t afford. There were a number of other worthy contenders, but RR15’s rich deep flavor makes for a party in your mouth. Pecans, toffee, caramel, dried fruits (especially cherry), and a long finish make this a must-have for those who can find a bottle and are willing to pay for it. This limited edition costs about $450 on the secondary.
2023 Winner: Remus Gatsby Reserve
Other 2024 contenders: Willet Family Estate 8 year, Pappy Van Winkle 15, Barrel Craft Spirits Gold Label Bourbon.
BEST PREMIUM BOURBON: $150 to $198
Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength
Garrison Bros. Distillery. MSRP $179.99
The Texas-based distillery has made a name for itself lately by producing well-regarded bourbon. Garrison Brothers products have gotten better with time. This one is a big boy —- 138.2 proof. At first, the alcohol and heat can overwhelm, and no wonder. But after letting it sit —- and maybe adding a couple of drops of water —- the flavors pop, and the depth shows. Leather, molasses, oak, sweet dark plum, chocolate, and a little vanilla come through. It has a great mouth feel and a long finish. It’s the biggest, hottest bourbon I’ve tasted —- even bigger than Elijah Craig’s c914 —- , and I can see why it won a bunch of awards. This won’t be for everyone because of the high proof. In this case, a little water goes a long way.
2023 winner: Russell Reserve 13
Other 2024 options: Elijah Craig 18, George T. Stagg, Old Carter
BEST BOURBON $125 to $149
15 Stars 10 years aged in sherry cask
15 Stars Distillery. MSRP: $139.99
I had never heard of 15 Stars until a friend gave me a bottle of the sherry cask for my birthday. You’ll be so smitten from the first sip that little heart bubbles might pop in front of your eyes. This is another bourbon characterized by dry fruit (figs, plum, blueberry), and the sherry cask finish gives off a cherry licorice sweetness. At 115 proof, you might expect a little heat, but not really. It’s smooth and balanced and an excellent addition to any shelf. ( Thanks to our friends at Bourbon Obsessed for allowing us to use their photo. You can read their 15 Stars review here.)
Last year’s winner: Willet Family Estate 6 year
Other 2024 options: William LaRue Weller, Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Series #11, Baker’s Bourbon 13-Year-Old Limited Edition Single Barrel.
BEST BOURBON $100 to $124
Bomberger’s Declaration
Michter’s Distillery. MSRP: $124
This feels like cheating because Bomberger’s won this category last year. But it wins again because it remains the most consistent, delicious pour is its category. It has enormous toffee, burnt sugar, caramel, and vanilla. Its rich, deep color makes sense because the bourbon sits dark and bold in the glass. It has a long finish, and the heat isn’t immense, even at 108 proof. It’s a fantastic bourbon, and you can read the full review here.
2023 winner: Bomberger’s Declaration
Other 2024 options: Yellow Stone Limited Edition 2024, Blood Oath Pact 10, Fortuna Rare Character Barrel Proof
BEST BOURBON $71 to $99
Homesick Blues Minnesota Wheated Bourbon
Heaven’s Door Spirits, MSRP: $80
Heaven’s Door partners with Bob Dylan on this bourbon sourced from Minnesota, Dylan’s home state. The company has released several outstanding products this past year, and Homesick Blues is my favorite. Yes, it’s 122.7 proof, but it’s not hot when you taste it, which makes sense since the mash bill contains 30% wheat (and 70% corn). It has a sweet cherry upfront and pleasing pepper and allspice (one of my many pet peeves is reading reviews that say “baking spice, which can mean anything.) This bourbon is on my “always have a bottle list,” and Heaven’s Door is an early contender for 2025 Distillery of the Year.
2023 winner: EH Taylor Barrel Proof
Other 2024 options: Old Ezra, OKI, Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength (note: there will be an extra December Bourbon Resource with a Horse Soldier review.)
BEST BOURBON $55 to $70
George T. Stagg Jr.
Buffalo Trace Distillery. MSRP: $65
There was an unfounded rumor a couple of years ago that Buffalo Trace would discontinue the Stagg Jr. brand. Instead, BT unveiled a rebranding that dropped the “Jr.” from the label (though many still refer to it as Jr. to differentiate from George T. Stagg). This potent bourbon has a thick mouthfeel and complex flavors that include brown sugar, rye, pepper, cloves, and a light fruitiness. It’s another big boy, as it’s not unusual for the proof to clock in at 130 proof or more. It’s a winner, especially on a chilly winter eve.
2023 Winner: Noah’s Mill
Other 2024 options: AM Scott Rye, Wild Turkey Rare Bread, Rowan’s Creek
Best Bourbon, $41 to $54.99
Bulleit 10-year Frontier Whiskey
Bulleit Distillery Company. MSRP: $47.99
I sometimes think Bulleit gets short shrift. It can be easily overshadowed by some of the more prominent, mass-produced names (Maker’s, Knob Creek, for example), and it doesn’t have a prominent place on most store shelves. It’s separate itself with classic bourbon flavors that complement each other instead of one being prominent over the other. This category was the toughest to judge because those mentioned here are so close. The Bulleit balance gives it the tiniest of edges.
2023 winner: Wild Turkey Rare Breed
Other 2024 options: Weller Antique, New Riff Bottled in Bond, Wild Turkey Rare Bread
Best Bourbon, $25 to $50
Old Grand Dad 114
James B. Beam Distilling Co., $34.99
Earlier this year, Beam released the highly anticipated Old Grand Dad 16-Year-Old Bourbon with a $200 price tag. I haven’t tasted it yet because I don’t like dropping that kind of coin on something that might not live up to the pricepoint —- especially when I can buy five bottles of the 114 instead. On a pound-for-pound basis, this is the best-value bourbon there is. Thick, deep caramel and vanilla coat the mouth, and the higher proof has a little burn, though rye comes through. It’s worth a gamble at that price if you haven’t tried it.
2023 winner: Elijah Craig Small Batch
Other 2024 options: 1792 small batch, Old Scout Smooth Ambler 7-year, Russell’s Reserve 10-year bourbon
Best Bourbon, under $24.99
Benchmark Full Proof
Buffalo Trace Distillery, $24.99
I have a good friend who makes fun of me whenever I mention this bourbon. It’s not the most flavorful; the finish isn’t long, and it’s a tad thin. But it’s also the least expensive full proof on the market. When you get to bargain bourbons, you want something that’s fairly tasty, inoffensive, and a pour you don’t mind bourbon newbies mixing. That’s Benchmark Full Proof.
2023 winner: Evan Williams 1783
Other 2024 options: Evan William Bottled in Bond, Old Forester 100 proof, Four Roses (yellow label)
That’s a wrap on this year’s Bourbon Resource Awards. Feel free to leave a comment.
Thank you to our friends at Bourbon Obsessed, who continue to be a terrific help and resource. They have a tremendous catalog of bourbon and distillery reviews that you can see here:
Ray Marcano writes and publishes the Bourbon Resource monthly, and he’s president of the 32 Staves Society. He’s a bourbon lover and long-time journalist who freelances for some of the country’s largest media brands. He’s the former national president of the Society of Professional Journalists, a two-time Pulitzer juror, and a Fulbright fellow.
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All prices are MSRP and vary by location. Many of these hard-to-find bourbons can cost many times retail.
A special thanks to all of the distilleries who send information about their newest releases and products and those who send samples for review. They’re a big part of this newsletter’s success.
Thank you to the good folks at Bourbon Obsessed, who have been kind enough to publish some of our reviews.
There will be a second December newsletter with news and a Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Bourbon.
Lastly, you can help this free newsletter by sharing it with friends. Thanks for reading!
I'm not a bourbon drinker, but I love this column for it's authenticity, authority, and it's consumer-forward approach to reviewing. Ray Marcano's experience and expertise is amazing. Fascinating even for non-imbibers.
This is very cool. Stagg is excellent. Going to try and convince the wife to spend $250 on the RR lol. Going to write about this in my newsletter!