The Best Bourbons of 2024 (So Far): The Top 10 Best Whiskeys of 2024

While we're only just past the halfway point of 2024, it’s that time of year when we look back at the best bourbons of 2024 (so far) and bring you our favorite releases, whether limited or mainstream, that we’ve enjoyed drinking, sinking and sipping. We've seen some spectacular bourbon whiskeys hit the market and ignite our palates. The back end of 2024 is shaping up to be even better for bourbon enthusiasts, with a slew of exceptional releases that will extend on those mentioned in this list. If you're looking to expand your horizons, build your collection or simply indulge in some of the finest and rarest bourbons available, here are our top ten best bourbons of 2024 (so far) that you should consider adding to your shelf.

1. Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof A124

The best of the year so far, Elijah Craig's Barrel Proof collection continues to set the standard for high-proof bourbon with its Small Batch Barrel Proof A124 release. Awarded Double Gold at the 2024 SFWSC, this uncut, unfiltered cask strength bourbon boasts a modest 59.5% ABV or 119-proof, the youngest and second-lowest proof small batch barrel proof ever released by Elijah Craig… but for what it might lack in punch, it certainly makes up for in drinkability! With notes of rich caramel, toasted oak, and a hint of dark chocolate, this bourbon is perfect for those who appreciate a nuanced and complexly layered drinking experience.

2. Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon Whiskey 2024

I recently wrote about Heaven Hill's Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon Whiskey in my Top 5 Most Anticipated Whiskeys of 2024, and now that it’s hit shelves and we’ve had a chance to get our hands on a bottle, I can safely say that the hype was worth it. A 121-proof cask strength, 35% wheat bourbon sounds like a mythical, made-up whiskey, but it does exist, and Heaven Hill has executed it perfectly. Supreme drinkability, high-proof heat without being overwhelming, a densely layered profile swimming with classic bourbon notes yet offering something new and unique thanks to the 35% wheat, 52% corn and 13% malted barley mash… this is what they’re talking about when they speak of dreamland.

3. Booker's 2024-01 Springfield Batch Small Batch Bourbon

The first release of 2024 in Booker's renowned high-proof, small-batch bourbon collection, the Booker’s 2024-01 Springfield Batch is a 62.25% ABV or 124.5-proof 7 year, 7 month and 8 day year old bourbon that pays homage to Beam’s Springfield distillery. Third on our list of the best of 2024 so far, the Springfield batch is an easy drinker with lashing of caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, and a touch of smoky oak that’s wrapped around warm apple pie. The Springfield Batch is a classy statement from Booker's and a nod to their dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

4. Bardstown x Amrut Collaborative Series Blended BouRye Whiskey

An experimental list needs and experimental release, and who better to add at number 4 than Bardstown and their famed Collaborative Series. The 2024 release brings a collaboration between Bardstown and Indian whiskey producer Amrut, with the result a unique and bizarrely malt-forward blend of BouRye Whiskey finished in Amrut casks. The high-rye bourbons are sourced MGP Indiana whiskey, ranging from 8 years to 14 years old, and at 110-proof, it’s surprisingly approachable. Think Weller’s wheated mash but with the addition of malted cherry, herbal tea and waves of cinnamon - odd, but somehow it just works. The Bardstown Amrut Blend is an extremely interesting BouRye, and though technically not a classic bourbon, it’s a most deserving addition to the best of 2024 list.

5. Blood Oath Pact 10 Bourbon

This isn’t the best Blood Oath Pact ever. It is, however, one of the best bourbons I’ve tried this year and enters the list at #5. Why? There’s an intriguing level of mystery as to what’s actually in the bottle. An undisclosed distillery from Kentucky. A blend of 7, 12 and 16 year old bourbons. Double finished in Cabernet franc and Merlot casks. Rumored to be from Wild Turkey or Heaven Hill. The list goes on… Blood Oath Pact 10 continues the legacy of expertly crafted bourbons with its 2024 release. Bottled at the standard 49.3% ABV or 98.6-proof, this bourbon is a blend of three unique bourbons and double-finished in a complementary pair of wine casks - it’s just a recipe for great bourbon whiskey-making. The result is full of forest fruits, thick caramel sauce and baked goods, before berry and brownie notes come to the fore and finish with layers of butterscotch and more wild fruit notes - a dessert-like aperitif.

6. Weller Millenium Blended Bourbon Whiskey

It would be folly to leave Weller Millenium off this list. Excruciatingly limited, this 49.5% ABV or 99-proof blended bourbon whiskey, features a 24 year old bourbon aged at Buffalo Trace distillery and is one of the oldest spirits ever produced by the Kentucky institution. Who knows where the dust will settle on this bourbon, but (at the moment) it is undoubtedly the most collectible whiskey release of 2024. Silky wheat, balanced bourbon flavors and a warm-enough proof to introduce itself loudly on the palate, Weller Millenium has a hard task living up to the hype and pricetag, but it does so with gusto and panache.

7. Woodford Reserve's Master's Collection Batch Proof Bourbon Whiskey 2024

Woodford Reserve's Master's Collection is known for its innovative, envelope-pushing releases, with the upcoming Madeira Cask finish a guaranteed hot commodity. Before this, however, the series sees a much-loved staple return with the Woodford Master’s Collection 2024 Batch Proof entering the fray at #7 on our list of the year’s best. Bottled at a plucky 60.6% ABV or 121.2-proof, this sharp cask-strength bourbon showcases the brand's classic flavor combinations and unwavering commitment to their recipe made their way. Expect a symphony of vanilla, caramel and an oddly tart cherry note, alongside classic dried fruit, baking spice and a sort of coca-cola clove note, balanced by a lengthy, lingering heat that slaps you in the face with every sip.

8. Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph

Not quite the triumph I’d hoped it would be, and not quite the best release in this formidable limited edition silo, but Wild Turkey's Master's Keep Triumph does an excellent job of continuing the legacy that the Kentucky distillery has built in the limited-release space. The first rye since the Cornerstone edition, and only the second rye in the Master’s Keep series (if you exclude Unforgotten as BouRye bourbon), Wild Turkey Triumph is a 10 year old, 104-proof rye that bats well above its average (and actually incorporates some 12 year old rye). As the 10th edition in the collection it was always going to be difficult to live up to expectations, and perhaps the choice of Rye made this a little bit more difficult than it could have been, however, it is still a punchy, spicy and memorable whiskey that celebrates one of the best limited release series that has survived the last decade.

9. Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2024

At #9 we have another instalment of the iconic Michter’s 10-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon. They’re not reinventing the wheel here by any means, but the 2024 Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon delivers exactly what it says on the bottle, a 94.4-proof (47.2% ABV) single barrel Kentucky with depth and longevity. For those looking for a no-nonsense single-barrel bourbon that provides a sophisticated sipping experience, Micher’s 10 2024 is an ideal addition to the top-shelf. 

10. Maker's Mark The Heart Release Wood Finishing Series Whiskey

The mid-2024 reboot of Maker’s Mark’s Wood Finishing Series, ‘The Heart Release’ is marketed as a tribute to the “heart” of Maker’s Mark distillery and is another excellent iteration that showcases the adaptability of the Maker’s recipe and stave finishing process. Bottled at cask-strength, above 110-proof, this 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley bourbon is technically batch BR-22A, and I suspect is just the beginning for the Wood Finishing Series which was purportedly coming to an end in 2023. For that reason, it has to enter the list at #10 as it denotes the first in a rebooted, improved silo.

And there you have it! 2024 has brought an impressive array of bourbons that showcase the innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication of some of the most respected distilleries in the industry. Each of these ten bourbons offers a unique and memorable drinking experience, making them worthy additions to any bourbon enthusiast's collection. Whether you're a seasoned collector or a curious newcomer, these top ten bourbons are sure to delight and impress with their exceptional quality and flavor.