19 Best Bourbons Under $50: Full Reviews (2023 Updated)
Last Updated on December 31, 2022 by Lydia Martin
Indulging yourself in a savory bourbon does not require spending half of your life’s savings. There are a lot of bourbon brands you can add to your go-to list that is equally flavorful as an expensive Kentucky Straight bourbon whiskey.
Even to a novice palate, we are sure that you can find the best bourbon under $50 on this list.
Top 19 Must-Try Bourbons Under $50
19. Basil Hayden’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $40 per 750 ml
Distillery: Beam Suntory
ABV: 40%
Flavor Profile:
Notes of rye spice, white pepper, vanilla sweetness, orange peel, caramel, and sweet corn to the mouth. The finish is rather dry and abrupt but with a slightly peppery taste.
Why We Like It:
We like the balance of this high-rye bourbon though it lacks a bit of bite. It is the best drinking whiskey for beginners who wants to know traditional bourbon flavors. It is easy to drink with flavors that are savory and rich.
18. Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon
Price: roughly $43 per 750 ml
Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey
ABV: 40%
Flavor Profile:
Tasting notes are creamy vanilla, earthy and dried herbs, caramel, floral essences, and spice
Why We Like It:
This small-batch bourbon is light and smooth on the palate. It has a crisp flavor and a lingering finish. You’ll find it great for sipping neat or on the rocks.
Read: What’s A Store-Pick Bourbon?
17. Heaven’s Door Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $45 per 750 ml
Distillery: Heaven’s Door
ABV: 46%
Flavor Profile:
The aroma of freshly baked cornbread with cinnamon and nutmeg greets the nose. The palate has sweet notes of vanilla and honey.
Why We Like It:
Heaven’s Door Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a deliciously sweet vanilla flavor. We love its straightforward taste.
It can be a go-to everyday bourbon, especially since it has a rich mouthfeel with a smooth texture. You can enjoy this neat or with ice.
16. Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Price: roughly $48 per 750 ml
Distillery: Bulleit Distilling Company
ABV: 45.6%
Flavor Profile:
It has pleasantly sweet vanilla notes with candied dried fruits, wood, vanilla, and clove.
Why We Like It:
Bulleit is a well-rounded bourbon that has an exceptionally smooth taste. The complexity of the flavors is pleasantly surprising. It is very creamy with well-balanced sweet and savory features. Adding a bit of water to it releases bolder flavors.
15. Field & Sound Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $50 per 750 ml
Distillery: Field and Sound Distillery
ABV: 50%
Flavor Profile:
It has a sweet citrusy flavor with almonds, figs, and nutmeg notes. The finish is long, smooth, and spicy with a touch of chocolate and cinnamon bun.
Why We Like It:
This bottle gives an Irish whiskey impression since it has high winter rye (1) content. However, it offers a deeper character. We love how it tastes neat, and we also appreciate the surprises it gives when added with water or ice.
14. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon
Price: roughly $39 per 750 ml
Distillery: Kirin Brewery Company
ABV: 50%
Flavor Profile:
The aroma of dried fruit, caramel, and vanilla greets the nose—with subtle notes of cocoa, maple syrup, chocolate, smoke, and tobacco flavor. The finish is long and smooth.
Why We Like It:
Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is one of our favorite single barrel bourbons because of its bold flavors. The long and relaxing finish glides softly down the throat. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is a must on your liquor cabinet if you want a daily dose of bourbon. Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon is one of the best bourbons under 50 dollars.
13. Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Price: roughly $49 per 750 ml
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery
ABV: 45.7%
Flavor Profile:
The taste of honey, sweet corn, oak, and spice tickles the taste buds.
Why We Like It:
Michter’s US-1 is one of the classic favorites because of its subtle and straightforward flavors. We like the sweetness layers that have the taste of sweet corn in the background. What impressed us the most was the long finish that transitions to perfectly balanced flavors of dried fruits. This bottle is also one of the best bourbons under 50 dollars.
12. Woodinville Whiskey Straight Bourbon
Price: roughly $40 per 750 ml
Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Co.
ABV: 45%
Flavor Profile:
It has a sweet and peppery flavor with chocolate, black currant, and vanilla bean notes. Undertones of tobacco flavor, black pepper, and brown sugar are also balanced with a very long and sweet finish.
Why We Like It:
We like the savory taste of this bourbon. We find this an enjoyable sipping bourbon whiskey. The balance between the sweet and spicy is good though we do not see so much character in this piece. We still recommend this as a day-to-day bourbon and a good cocktail mix.
11. Yellowstone Bourbon Select 93
Price: roughly $40 per 750 ml
Distillery: Limestone Branch Distillery
ABV: 46.5%
Flavor Profile:
The aroma of biscuits, licorice, and toffee greets the nose. The palate will enjoy a burst of toffee, dried cherry, rye spice, and buttery toast.
Why We Like It:
Yellowstone Bourbon has the most subtle flavors. It brings many flavors, but not one imposes a stronger taste which makes this bourbon very appealing. This bottle is one of our top picks as best bourbons under 50 dollars. But who makes Yellowstone bourbon?
10. Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Old
Price: roughly $49.99 per 750 ml
Distillery: Brown–Forman distillery
ABV: 46.5%
Flavor Profile:
The nose is greeted with candied fruit and dark sugar molasses. The palate enjoys notes of nutmeg, pecan, banana, honey, and a good dose of oak.
Why We Like It:
Old Forester The 117 Series 1910 Extra Old has a warm taste of spice that is not overwhelming, which we like in a sipping bourbon. The tobacco taste is almost non-existent but very noticeable and captured our attention as it drifts slowly during the smooth finish. It is a good bourbon with a good bottle cost.
9. Neversink Select Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $48 per 750 ml
Distillery: Neversink Spirits Distillery
ABV: 45%
Flavor Profile:
The scent of sliced apples and vanilla tickles the nose, while the palate enjoys a full flavor of apple orchards with hints of spice and vanilla.
Why We Like It:
This bottle is one of the wheated bourbons we like. The taste of apple is very noticeable since they rested this in Neverink’s Apple Apéritif. It has flavors that are refreshingly sweet and fruity. This bourbon is a step away from the usual taste you have with a typical bourbon.
8. Hudson Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $48 per 750 ml
Distillery: Tuthilltown Spirits
ABV: 46%
Flavor Profile:
The palate will enjoy vanilla, corn cereal, cinnamon, almonds, and brown sugar. The finish is smooth and well-spiced with orange zest and almond notes.
Why We Like It:
The mash bill used along with corn is only 5% malted barley, but this bottle has so much flavor.
Also, the balanced taste between sweet and spicy is remarkable, with just enough viscosity. We also liked its smoothness. It simply glides along with the corn and vanilla notes.
Read: Recommended High-Level Bourbons
7. Legent Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $42 per 750 ml
Distillery: Beam Suntory
ABV: 47%
Flavor Profile:
Tasting notes of grain and vanilla with a healthy dose of spice, black pepper, candied ginger, and allspice are present in this bottle. It is countered with the sweetness of milk chocolate, honey, and red fruit. Strong notes of oak are present from the nose to the palate.
Why We Like It:
We like the fact that the aging process of this Legent bottle is meticulously done. It was aged for around six years, including the finishing touches inside sherry oaks and red wine oak barrels. The character of this bourbon is well-defined.
6. Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $47 per 750 ml
Distillery: Breckenridge Distillery
ABV: 43%
Flavor Profile:
The nose is greeted with a spicy scent with notes of fresh rye. The palate will enjoy earthy notes of oak, vanilla, white pepper, and brown sugar with a spicy and long finish but with strong rye notes.
Why We Like It:
This high-rye bourbon uses a mash bill of 38% rye, 56% sweet corn, and 6% unmalted barley. This deep amber whiskey is very delicate to the mouth. It is one of the best bourbon brands that should be drunk neat. It is a complete mix of sweet, bitter, and spicy.
5. Watershed Distillery Blended Straight Bourbon
Price: roughly $42 per 750 ml
Distillery: Watershed Distillery
ABV: 45%
Flavor Profile:
Notes of vanilla, dark fruit, orange, cherry, and apple are obvious on both the nose and palate.
Why We Like It:
We believe this is one of the best bourbon brands because of its complex flavors. It transitions from citrusy to fruity. Though the exact mash bill content was undisclosed, they managed to develop a great-tasting sipping bourbon.
4. Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $49.99 per 750 ml
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery
ABV: 60%
Flavor Profile:
You will enjoy tasting notes of vanilla, caramel, allspice, and honey. You will also find hints of roasted almonds, maple syrup, and strong wood notes.
Why We Like It:
What’s not to like in the complex, big, and bold bourbon flavors of Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon? We appreciate how the flavors of Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey stand out without overlapping each other. Knob Creek Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is also a great addition to an Old Fashioned cocktail.
3. Cathead Distillery Old Soul Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $44 per 750 ml
Distillery: Cathead Distillery
ABV: 45%
Flavor Profile:
Tasting notes are balanced, with notes of dried cherry, toffee, baking spices, and elegant notes of rose and wood.
Why We Like It:
We like this bottle because of the elegant smoothness of the flavors. It easily glides to the finish, leaving a spicy hint of rye. We find it savory and entertaining and consider this one of the best bourbons under 50 dollars.
2. FEW Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Price: roughly $49 per 750 ml
Distillery: Few Spirits Distillery
ABV: 46.5%
Flavor Profile:
The nose will catch rich caramel notes with vanilla and cloves. The palate will enjoy the taste of caramel and toffee, rye, and spices.
Why We Like It:
FEW Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey is impeccably different. The high percentage of Northern rye on the mash bill mixture made it a great-tasting spicy bourbon and barley malt and corn. The sweetness is still notable, but this is one of the rare bottles with evenly flavored components.
1. New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Fall 2017)
Price: roughly $43 per 750 ml
Distillery: New Riff Distilling
ABV: 50%
Flavor Profile:
Full flavors of vanilla and clove, along with rye spices, can be found on this bottle’s tasting notes. It has a long and spicy rye finish.
Why We Like It:
The classic bourbon flavors are present in New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey. The taste of fresh mint is hidden in the spicy notes and high alcohol content. This bourbon is one of the best bourbons under 50 dollars.
FAQs
Is a $50 bourbon considered mid-priced?
A $50 bourbon is considered mid-priced and is the price of most standard-category bourbons. There are also high-quality bourbons on liquor store shelves that are very affordable, where the bottle costs lesser than $50.
Is $50 cheap for a bourbon?
No, $50 is not cheap for bourbon because many top-shelf quality bottles are sold for under $50. These bourbon brands can compete with expensive bottles displayed on liquor store shelves.
And Our #1 Pick Is …
We find New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey as the best bourbon under 50. It is a complete package with a good percentage of alcohol.
We have to try bourbon brands that present a good mash bill mixture and how they are made. Great tasting notes will always depend on the quality of ingredients and how they are made.
These are the same basis as more expensive brands. The difference would be with their much higher-end ingredients and more expensive packaging.
Reference:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/rye
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [email protected] or learn more about us here.
