Unlocking Kentucky's Secrets: Discovering The Most Underrated Gems For Bourbon Connoisseurs

What do you look for when purchasing your next bottle? The best value whiskey, the most underrated bourbon, or perhaps just another bottle that you hope won’t disappoint? Are you one of the millions of people hunting the same thing, that ever-elusive Pappy van Winkle or BTAC unicorn, a bottle that will impress your friends, a bottle that you mightn’t ever open and enjoy?

With so much competition for popular, well-marketed bourbon whiskeys, it’s easy to forget that there are exceptional bottles right under our noses that might not have the same hype or allure thanks to large advertising budgets and extremely short supplies. Often, we forget to explore uncharted waters in the pursuit of those undiscovered hidden gems, so today we take a look at 5 of the most seriously underrated bourbons anywhere in the world (that you can access at affordable and reasonable prices).

Old Forester 1920

The best kept secret in bourbon? Those who know just how good the 1920 Prohibition Style from Old Forester is might disagree with us including it in this list for fear of it being spoiled and harder to find, but the cat’s out of the bag - this is possibly the best widely accessible Kentucky whiskey of the last 5 years (before the market exploded and bottles began fetching astronomically high prices). 

A profile that swims with licks of vanilla and caramel and dives into heavy oak undertones, a charred nuttiness and subtle hints of dark fruit, baking spice and sweet cereal - at the price point, you’re set an almost impossible task trying to find a whiskey that holds its own against some of the heavier hitting allocated bottles.

Evan Williams BiB

Another staple of the Kentucky whiskey landscape that deserves more attention than it receives, while Evan Williams is the second-largest selling bourbon it is also one of the most overlooked and disrespected in general terms. When it comes to excellent bourbon and remarkable value, the Bottled in Bond White Label, distilled at Heaven Hill, is one of the pound-for-pound heavyweights.

A 100 proof high-quality bourbon aged for at least 4 years, the mashbill is 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley and makes for a classically appointed bourbon with a sneaking, subtle sweetness that ties the spirit together exceptionally well. From the outset, caramel and vanilla prevail, before earthy rye resounds alongside smoky barrel char. The finish is understated, with a distinctive dryness and a lengthy but not overpowering heat. 

Old Grand-Dad 114

114 Proof. Beset with a label that features an old man. A unique, rye heavy mashbill. In the current landscape that is bourbon, a few of these elements can be found in bottles that fetch upwards of $1000, so it’s perhaps ironic that the Old Grand-Dad 114 sits at a fraction of the price when compared to extremely similar products.

With the rising popularity of rye-heavy bourbons, it’s surprising that Old Grand-Dad isn’t a more sought-after bottle. The mashbill is exceptionally unique, comprised of 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 10% Malted Barley, making for an exciting, full-bodied flavor bomb that’s instilled with the expert craftsmanship of Beam, as well as the peerless quality standards for which the distillery is renowned.

A brilliant bourbon at a budget price, enjoy the bouquet of spice, cinnamon and rye heat before it gives way to a fierce yet fruity body that licks with fire and finishes with a candied cinnamon flurry.

Heaven Hill 7 Year Old BiB

So good it was voted 2019’s 4th best bourbon (in any price category) by the Whisky Advocate, Heaven Hill’s 7 Year Old Bottled in Bond Bourbon is a classy and charismatic whiskey that’s silky on the palate and seriously interesting from start to finish. 

A collision of complex flavors defines the 7 Year Old BiB, with the 100 proof somehow more potent than it should be. The nose is brimming with nuanced flavors, spanning from honey to roasted nuts and sweet caramel, before the proof explodes and introduces a cacophony of chocolate, baking spice and the anise of herbal clove and tobacco smoke.

There is something different about this whiskey, a meticulous and methodical bourbon that conjures an otherworldly aura through bold, brazen flavors, the powerful proof and languid, length of finish - a spectacular bourbon for the price point and one that must be included in any collection.

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

There’s history in this bottle, a lineage that dates back to the early 90’s; it’s a bourbon that has learnt about itself over time, about its strengths and weaknesses, good and bad - there is little weak or bad about this whiskey however. The Rare Breed from Wild Turkey is a barrel proof straight bourbon that blends 6, 8 and 12 year old Kentucky whiskeys and marries them to produce something akin to nectar.

Bottled in the region of 108-115 proof, and composed of a corn heavy mashbill (75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley), the Rare Breed is one of the best value, most underrated whiskeys found anywhere in the world, a balanced and bold bourbon that boasts big classic flavors and subtle nuances that make it a step above almost any other whiskey in its class.

From the outset, caramel and toffee intertwine with the zing of orange peel and citrus before oak takes hold and adds a mature elegance and depth. The palate is coated in butter and the mouthfeel is silky and smooth, a complex mixture of rye spice and the sweetness of caramel and burnt sugar is foregrounded before more citrus presents itself and is bruised by swathes of tobacco and leather. The rare breed is a unique and rather rare experience, a most excellent bourbon that is perhaps the most underrated of the lot.

Barrell Bourbon Cask Strength

Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, Barrell Craft Spirits is quickly becoming one of the most popular new-age distilleries in America. Producing some of the most unique and exciting whiskeys found anywhere in the world, Barrell Craft Spirits is a triumph of innovation. Each batch represents a departure from conventional whiskey-making traditions, instead favoring small batch and single barrel releases with interesting finishes, and using new methodologies. Released in 2023, Batch 35 may be their best batch yet.

Voted #11 in Whisky Advocate's Top 20 Whiskies of 2023, Barrel Bourbon Batch 035 is a blend of 6, 7, 8, and 13 year year old bourbons bottled at 58.75% (117.5-proof). A multi-mashbill blend of 6 and 7-year-old spicy and earthy, high-rye, high-proof, oak forward barrels was combined with a blend of 8-year-old softer, lower-proof barrels with concentrated notes of dark cherry and butterscotch. After mingling for two months, 13-year-old barrels with dominant fruit flavors were layered in. The resulting bourbon is peppery and intriguing on the nose, and sweet and long on the finish.

Knob Creek 12 Year

Knob Creek 12 Year was originally positioned as a limited edition bourbon when it was released in late 2019. Since its initial release, Knob Creek 12 Year now joins Knob Creek 9 Year, as part of the standard Knob Creek small batch lineup. Distilled at the Jim Beam Distillery, Knob Creek 12 is crafted from a mash bill comprised of 77% corn, 13% rye, and 10% malted barley, aged for a minimum of 12 years in select oak barrels and finished to a barrel strength of 100-proof.

The nose highlights the perfect aging of this bourbon with tones of warm oak and vanilla blended over layers of caramel, bakery pastries, and splashes of cream. On the palate are more notable hits of aged oak, leather, and pops of sweet vanilla marshmallow seasoned with crushed white pepper.

Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve

Crafted to meet the growing demand among aficionados for elite, high-proof bourbon, Belle Meade Reserve is the premium expression of the multi-award-winning Belle Meade Bourbon. Voted the 10th best whiskey of 2018 according to Whisky Advocate's "Top 20 Whiskies of 2018", Belle Meade Reserve is meticulously handcrafted in small batches from a blend of the finest aged bourbons to create a whiskey of unparalleled quality and complexity. 

Bottled at 108.3-proof, this bold, high-rye content bourbon is composed of superior barrels from Belle Meade's inventory which have been combined into separate batches resulting in a richer and more robust profile. Though this painstaking selection process guarantees a certain degree of batch-by-batch variation, every bottle of Belle Meade Reserve is rich and full-flavored, showing vanilla, caramel, spice, and stone fruits.

Russell's Reserve 10 Year

Crafted in honor of father and son duo Jimmy and Eddie Russell, a master distiller team with a combined tenure of over 100 years with Wild Turkey Distillery, Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve 10 year old straight bourbon is classically fashioned whiskey for the modern drinker.

Composed of hand-selected barrels aged for a minimum of 10 years, this ongoing release contains a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley for a finished barrel strength of 90% proof. On the nose are hues of vanilla and ribbons of caramel over oak, vintage leather, and graham cookies. The palate is quintessentially bourbonesque with hits of vanilla and caramel, smoked tobacco, and layers of perfectly seasoned oak.

Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked

The first new major expression since the classic Maker's was released in 1958, Maker's Mark 46 is aged longer in French oak staves, resulting in an elevated tasting experience. Aromas of toasty French oak, caramel and baking spices welcome you on the nose before a mildly sweet and uniquely layered palate with deep rich notes of vanilla and baking spice, culminating in a velvety and pleasingly long finish.

Originally released in 2010, Maker's Mark 46 has undergone many changes over the years such as going from being called Maker’s 46 to Maker’s Mark 46, and in March 2022, the company released a newly redesigned bottle for the bourbon. Nevertheless, even with a new look, Maker’s Mark 46 still manages to take one of the most iconic bourbon brands in the world to the next level.