Last Updated on March 1, 2024 by Lydia Martin
Bulleit Bourbon is making its way to the spotlight as many whiskey enthusiasts are getting interested in what Bulleit has to offer.
It now ranks as one of the best-selling bourbons in the US. It’s understandable as Bulleit bourbon introduces a variety of expressions – enough to catch the public’s attention.
If you want to explore this brand, we ranked the best Bulleit bourbons so you can easily filter the best spirit for your taste.
Top 6 Bulleit Bourbons Ranked
6. Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength
Average Price: around $60 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 59.5% ABV (may vary per batch)
Why We Like It: Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength is a standard bourbon but has been dialed in a bit more, which shines alone.
This spirit is made in small batches from hand-picked casks and bottled at the archaic Stitzel-Weller Distillery –famous for making another popular spirit, Pappy Van Winkle– without being filtered or diluted.
This is our least favorite bourbon of Bulleit, but we can say that this is a fine dram. It doesn’t have any “wow” factor you’d expect from a barrel-strength spirit.
However, the amount of spice and ABV is high, making this a good choice for making cocktails.
5. Bulleit 95 Rye Aged 12 Years
Average Price: around $55 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 46% ABV
Why We Like It: Due to the reputation of Bulleit’s Rye, in 2019, they finally added this expression to their rye line.
The spirit is similar to any typical rye, with time being the major difference. This is aged in oak for 12 years before proofing and bottling.
This good dram goes well with water or on the rocks. It makes a great base for cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Sazeracs [1].
The taste blends well on the mouth, combining dark chocolate, toasted coconut, and peppery tones, but it doesn’t overpower the whiskey’s body.
Read: Bulleit Rye vs Bulleit Bourbon
4. Bulleit Bourbon
Average Price: around $32 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Why We Like It: This bourbon whiskey [2] is made with a mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. It sits for six years before it is mixed, diluted to proof, and put into barrels.
This smells like a classic, spicy bourbon, with hints of pure vanilla, wood, spice, and oak. The spice smells like cinnamon, with creamy vanilla, warm tobacco, and a hint of fruit from the orchard.
The ending is warm but not hot. During the medium finish, you can still taste brown sugar, dark spice, oak, and a hint of corn.
3. Bulleit Bourbon 10
Average Price: around $49 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45.6% ABV
Why We Like It: If Bulleit hadn’t come out with great new expressions, this would have been number one. Still, this is a good choice, from drinking straight up to mixing into a cocktail.
This is a classic ten-year-old Bulleit Bourbon. There’s not much to say about this bourbon than that the extra years make it special and tasty.
What’s interesting here is there are waves of Christmas relishes following buttery-soaked sourdough, savory herbs, and maple syrup with cinnamon-baked apples.
Read: Bulleit Bourbon vs Buffalo Trace
2. Bulleit 95 Rye
Average Price: around $32 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 45% ABV
Why We Like It: Mainly, this spirit suits anyone’s budget. But beyond that, there’s more to like about the Bulleit 95 Rye.
This rye is really good and hits all the right classic rye notes. It’s also a good whiskey to keep on hand for drinking neat, in highballs, and in cocktails (like Manhattans).
This dram starts with a mix of resinous cedar, creamy vanilla, sharp rye spice, and fresh mints.
The taste matches these notes and adds hints of dark cacao (with added water), flavorful fruits, and a buttery biscuit at the bottom of the sip.
The finish lasts long and goes back to the cedar and sap, but this time with a stronger spice.
1. Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select
Average Price: around $60 per 750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 50% ABV
Why We Like It: The Bourbon Blender’s Select is our favorite Bulleit spirit so far. This is so easy to drink, and you don’t really need water or ice to enjoy it.
But we still highly suggest adding water to let it bloom to its fullest potential.
We especially like its taste featuring complex notes, mixing red cherries, leather, buttery toffee, dry tobacco leaves, and rye pepperiness.
The finish is long, rich, and oaky. Plus, it provides the Christmas spices that make you want more.
Read: Bulleit Bourbon vs Knob Creek
What’s The Best Bulleit Bourbon For Old Fashioned?
The 95 Rye 12 Years Old is the best Bulleit bourbon for making Old Fashioned. The characteristics of this spirit are not just for drinking neat or mixed with ice or water.
It can be a great cocktail mixer, which excels in drinks like the Old Fashioned and even Sazeracs.
Its chocolatey, toasty coconut and peppery spice come together harmoniously without overpowering the base flavor, which is a good mix for cocktails.
What’s The Best Bulleit Bourbon For Sipping Neat?
The Bulleit Bourbon 10 is the best bourbon for sipping neat. It’s because the Bulleit Bourbon barrels were set aside and aged for a decade in charred American white oak.
The result is a unique Bulleit expression with a rich, robust flavor and unbelievable smoothness, which is perfect for sipping neat.
FAQs Best Bulleit Bourbon?
What makes Bulleit Bourbon the best?
Bulleit Bourbon is renowned for its bold flavor profile, smooth finish, and high-quality ingredients, setting it apart as one of the best bourbon choices for enthusiasts.
What is Bulleit Bourbon known for?
Bulleit Bourbon is known for its distinctive high rye content, giving it a spicy and robust flavor profile that stands out in cocktails or enjoyed neat.
Is Bulleit bourbon smooth?
Bulleit bourbon is uniquely neat and smooth. With a medium amber hue, mild spiciness, and a hint of sweetness from the oak, it creates a soft and subtle middle palate with notes of nutmeg, oak, and maple.
Does Bulleit bourbon taste like cinnamon?
Yes, Bulleit bourbon has hints of cinnamon. There is a moderate balance of flavors in Bulleit bourbon, including licorice, honey, dried orange, subtle sour peach, oak, baked apple, pineapple, and cinnamon.
Is Bulleit bourbon high-proof?
Bulleit bourbon has high-proof spirits like the Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Strength with 59.5% and Bulleit Bourbon Blenders’ Select with 50% ABV, which is higher than the usual 40% ABV. But, the alcohol proof varies depending on the market. For Danish and Australian markets, Bulleit bottled the spirits at 40% ABV.
Is Bulleit bourbon top-shelf?
Bulleit bourbon can be considered top-shelf, but it is usually in the medium-shelf range. This bourbon brand is good, but other brands or spirits outshine Bulleit in factors like price, flavor, and availability.
What flavors can I expect from Bulleit Bourbon?
Bulleit Bourbon offers a complex taste with notes of vanilla, caramel, spice, and oak, creating a well-balanced and flavorful drinking experience.
How should I drink Bulleit Bourbon?
Bulleit Bourbon can be enjoyed in various ways, whether sipped neat, on the rocks, or mixed into classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned or Manhattan.
Is Bulleit Bourbon suitable for beginners?
While Bulleit Bourbon has a bold flavor profile, it can still be enjoyed by beginners, especially those who appreciate a whiskey with character and depth.
Where is Bulleit Bourbon produced?
Bulleit Bourbon is produced in Kentucky, USA, at the Bulleit Distillery, where it’s crafted using traditional methods and aged to perfection in charred oak barrels.
Final Thoughts
Bulleit bourbon is a competitive brand in the liquor market today, and we can’t deny its uprising popularity as time goes by.
If you haven’t tasted any Bulleit bourbon before, this is your sign to try any of the spirits to widen your options.
Each spirit on this list has its own characteristics catering to different palates. However, if there’s a need to choose the best one – that would be Blender’s Select.
The complexity of flavors and smooth finish is there, making it an easy drink.
References:
- https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drinks/recipes/a3876/sazerac-drink-recipe/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/bourbon-whiskey
