Bourbon Rankings (Taste)
I have had several people ask me to provide a ranking of the bourbons I have reviewed based solely on the bourbon. Well, here are my bourbon grades. Check out my grading scale here.
1. Four Roses 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch (A/A+)
2. Four Roses 125th Anniversary 2013 Limited Edition Small Batch (A/A-)
3. Booker’s (CO5-A-12) (A-)
3. Four Roses Single Barrel (A-)
5. Russell’s Reserve 10 Year (B+)
5. Jefferson’s 18 yr. Presidential Select (B+)
5. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength (Batch 15-03) (B+)
5. Noah’s Mill (B+)
5. Rowan’s Creek (B+)
5. Breckenridge Bourbon (B+)
5. Maker’s 46 (B+)
12. Rock Hill Farms (B+/B)
12. Wild Turkey 101 (B+/B)
14. Hooker’s House (B/B+)
15. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2003 (B)
15. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2002 (B)
15. Angel’s Envy (B)
15. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel (B)
15. Woodford Reserve (B)
15. Eagle Rare 10 Year Single Barrel (B)
15. Blanton’s Original (B)
15. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (B)
15. Jim Beam Bonded (B)
24. Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Reserve (B/B-)
24. Elmer T. Lee (B/B-)
24. Baker’s (B/B-)
24. Four Roses Small Batch (B/B-)
24. Old Grand-Dad 114 (B/B-)
29. Bulliet 10 yr. Frontier Bourbon (B-/B)
30. Basil Hayden’s (B-)
30. Buffalo Trace (B-)
30. Jim Beam Devil’s Cut (B-)
30. Elijah Craig 12 Year (B-)
30. Wild Turkey Rare Breed (B-)
30. W.L. Weller 12 Year (B-)
30. Jim Beam Signature Craft 12 Year (B-)
30. Old Hickory Great American Straight Bourbon (B-)
30. Willett Pot Still Single Barrel Family Reserve (B-)
30. Jefferson’s (B-)
40. Four Roses Yellow Label (C+/B-)
40. Old Weller Antique (C+/B-)
42. Wild Turkey 81 (C+)
42. 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Barrel Select (C+)
44. Old Forester (C/C+)
44. Jim Beam Black Label (C/C+)
44. Evan Williams 1783 (C/C+)
47. Knob Creek 9 Year Small Batch (C)
47. Old Crow Reserve (C)
47. Old Grand-Dad Bonded (C)
47. Rebel Yell (C)
47. Corner Creek Reserve (C)
47. Evan Williams Black Label (C)
47. Bulliet Frontier (C)
47. Berkshire Bourbon (C)
47. Filibuster Triple Cask (Batch 1) (C)
56. Fighting Cock 6 Year (C-)
56. Kentucky Vintage (C-)
56. John E. Fitzgerald Larceny (C-)
56. Maker’s Mark (C-)
56. Old Crow (C-)
56. Rebel Reserve (C-)
56. Wild Turkey 80 (C-)
56. Jim Beam White Label (C-)
64. Trader Joe’s (D+)
64. Jesse James (D+)
Those are my bourbon rankings ranked solely on my tastes. That’s the fun of bourbon, you might rank these completely different. Which ones would you change?
7 responses to “Bourbon Rankings (Taste)”
Lazer
February 26th, 2013 at 13:39
What about Baker’s, Beam’s best Small Batch Bourbon
bargainbourbon
February 26th, 2013 at 23:34
A great recommendation. Its the only one of the Small Batch Collection that I’ve yet to review on the blog. I had a pour of it a while ago, but I don’t trust my notes enough to base a full review on them. I remember being fond of it. I’ll pick up a bottle soon, and hopefully have a review up within the next month or two.
Jackson
December 9th, 2013 at 11:07
I know the stuff is RARE…but have you tried the Four Roses 125th Anniversary bottling?…This has got to be my all time FAVORITE bourbon. The bouquet is sweet/floral up front but is balanced with a quick change to a dry on the mid palate…so it is balanced quickly and exceptionally…the cherry notes are distinct up front for sure but there is also this “silkiness” on the tongue…Rutledge did a phenomenal job blending this one IMO…
If you haven’t had an opportunity to try it…try and get a sample…it IS worth the hunt.
bargainbourbon
December 9th, 2013 at 12:31
Thanks to a few much appreciated connections, I was able to procure a bottle of the 125th Anniversary bourbon. Actually, I am hoping to have a comparison review of this year’s LE Small Batch and last year’s within the next few weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed both of them, but you’ll have to wait for the review to see which I liked best (gotta keep some suspense, right?).
I absolutely agree with you on the skill and genius of Jim Rutledge, undoubtedly the hottest Master Distiller in America right now. It seems like Four Roses can’t miss on their limited editions bourbons of late. Stay tuned for the official review of his handiwork.
Terry
April 5th, 2014 at 19:15
Are you going to update this list with your recent reviews?
Mike Gardner
May 23rd, 2016 at 12:44
Nice rankings. Have you had Colonel EH Taylor Barrel Proof? Ranks almost up there with George T Stagg, in my opinion.
bargainbourbon
May 23rd, 2016 at 12:51
I have tried it, and it is one of my favorite bourbons. I haven’t reviewed on the blog yet mostly because it is a pretty tough bourbon to find in my experience. But, its a great bourbon, for sure!