Liquor Laboratory

20 Best Flavored Bourbon Brands Listed (2024 Updated)

Best Flavored Bourbon

The combination of bourbon and a dessert finish adds a bit of flavor to your glass, making this spirit more interesting to drink.  

So if you want a hint of something extra, keep reading and discover the best flavored bourbon you need to try now. 

Top 20 Best Flavored Bourbons You Need To Try 

20. Howler Head Kentucky Straight Banana Bourbon Whiskey

3 bottle of Howler Head Kentucky Straight Banana Bourbon Whiskey and a banana fruit

Average Price: around $25.99 /750ml (Caskers)

Alcohol Content:  40% ABV 

Why We Like It: The Howler Head Banana Bourbon Whiskey is a classic whiskey with a strong banana flavor that lingers on the palate.

It has a smooth and creamy taste similar to whiskeys famous for their cinnamon notes.

The sweet yet hot banana taste makes Howler Head believe it is the next great flavor for spirits. 

This drink has a distinct sweet and creamy vanilla aroma that lingers over the Laffy Taffy banana.

Its burnt toffee flavor adds to the signature Howler Head experience.

19. Ballotin Bourbon Ball Chocolate Whiskey

Ballotin Bourbon Ball Chocolate Whiskey Bottle with glass and chocolate

Average Price: around $24.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 30% ABV 

Why We Like It: The Ballotin Bourbon Ball Chocolate Whiskey starts with a nutty flavor followed by a smooth and sweet finish. 

The finish was exactly as promised, with hints of chocolate and caramel lingering for a long time.

It’s perfect for sipping straight from the glass as it instantly enhances any vanilla dessert, such as a Creme Brulee or ice cream.

Overall, this is a nice whiskey to have on the shelf, or it can be used as an after-dinner dessert. 

Read: Top Bourbons With Vanilla Notes

18. Sapling Maple Bourbon

Sapling Maple Bourbon Bottle with glass and ice

Average Price: around $44.99 /750ml (MSRP)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: This powerful blend of bourbon is perfect for those who like to drink heavy brown sugar cubes in their Old-Fashioned drinks.

The nose features a combination of baked apple pie and syrup, cinnamon brioche, and hints of wood sugar.

The palate is full of sweet brown sugar, spices, and vanilla. There are also hints of spice and pear. After a couple of drops of water, golden apples and pears rise.

Then on the finish, it’s short, but it coats the tongue with smoke, brown sugar, and maple throughout. 

17. Evan Williams Honey Bourbon

Evan Williams Honey Bourbon Bottle and Shot Glass on top of Wooden Table

Average Price: around $11.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 32.5% ABV 

Why We Like It: The Evan Williams Honey Bourbon blends Kentucky Bourbon and real honey.

This drink is very versatile and can be used to create a refreshing cocktail.

For anyone who is looking for a well-crafted and mild bourbon, Evan Williams Honey Bourbon is a great choice.

This is made with real honey and has a lower proof than most of its peers. 

Heaven Hill Distillery aged this bourbon for at least four years. It has been regarded as one of the top-selling whiskey lines in the world.

16. Savannah Bourbon & Honey

Savannah Bourbon & Honey bottle with glass and cigar

Average Price: around $45.99 /750ml (Drizly)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: This blend of Savannah 88 bourbon and rare honey from the Savannah Bee Company is made with the finest ingredients.

This limited-edition bottle has notes of vanilla and honey.

Due to its sweetness, we recommend having this drink on the rocks (but it still depends on your preference). 

If the Savannah 88 Bourbon satisfies you, then this Savannah Bourbon & Honey will surely amaze you.

This is one of our favorite honey-flavored spirits, among others. 

The taste of honey is just fine mixed with the bourbon whiskey. It’s a perfect sipper after dinner or a dessert after any meal. 

15. Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon

3 bottles of Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon

Average Price: around $67.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 53% ABV 

Why We Like It: This bourbon was aged in honey barrels, and the rich sweet scents of honey will immediately catch your attention.

But prep your wallet because it’s pricey. 

The nose is dominated by the honey scent, which provides a slightly sweet opening to the drink.

This drink has a rich and creamy finish complemented by the honey sweetness and the rye spice.

But as the flavors fade, the sweet honey lingers, and this is the defining flavor of this bourbon.

The finish is also very satisfying due to the gentle fading of these flavors.

14. Ugly Dog Peanut Butter Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Ugly Dog Peanut Butter Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey with glass and peanut

Average Price: around $24 /750ml (MSRP)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: The latest creation from the Chelsea, a Michigan-based distiller, is the Ugly Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey.

It is made with organic cane sugar and aged in barrels. 

This drink has a smooth peanut butter flavor. It has a similar flavor profile to the Crown Royal Peanut Butter Whiskey but is not that popular. 

If you love peanut butter in your whiskey and you want to try other brands, this is for you.

The price is just right for the spirit’s quality. You get what you pay for.  

13. Hayes Parker Cherry Kentucky Bourbon

Hayes Parker Cherry Kentucky Bourbon Bottle and a cherry on top of wooden table

Average Price: around $11.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 45% ABV 

Why We Like It: Hayes Parker Cherry Kentucky Bourbon is essentially a dessert-flavored blend, and it’s largely inoffensive. 

We don’t think it would be out of place to serve it to your guests or make a punch.

This is a mellow, smooth, refreshing Bourbon with a splash of cherry. 

Its flavors are elevated through the TerrePURE process [1], which ensures that they don’t break down in ice or drinks.

12. Cooper’s Mark Mango Bourbon Whiskey

Cooper's Mark Mango Bourbon Whiskey bottle and a mango on top of table

Average Price: around $24.99 /750ml (Drizly)

Alcohol Content: 45.5% ABV 

Why We Like It: We love the aroma of Cooper’s Mark Mango Bourbon Whiskey as it is sweet and has hints of spice and vanilla. 

Its smooth characteristics follow shortly after. This beverage is a great example of how bourbon can be made with mango.

If you want something unique, this is the way to go. Just imagine mango with whiskey; its aroma and flavor are just so satisfying.

It’s on the sweet side, so it’s fruity, sugary, and slightly alcoholic.  

11. Heritage Hills Honey Flavored Bourbon

Close Up Shot of Heritage Hills Honey Flavored Bourbon Bottle Label

Average Price: around $19.99 /750ml (MSRP)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: The Heritage Hills Honey-flavored Bourbon Whiskey has a light floral aroma that lingers throughout the drink. 

Heritage Hills Honey Flavored Bourbon is a sweet and creamy drink with hints of citrus and caramel. 

This smooth and spicy Bourbon is made with just the right amount of honey and has a delightful finish. Its long finish gives it a satisfying and warm feel.

This is perfect after dinner with a scoop of ice cream. The unique honey infusion and golden solution help mask the alcohol burn.

10. Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon

Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bottle and a Glass

Average Price: around $43.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 45% ABV 

Why We Like It: If you’re looking for a great whiskey to enjoy after dinner, then Knob Creek’s is a perfect choice.

This complex blend features a bit of a bonfire smoke flavor.

This bourbon is perfect if you love sweets. But for those who not, we would recommend reducing its sweetness by adding a couple of ice cubes or adding some water to make it more balanced.

The heavy maple flavor is not required to be topped with anything else, so keep it out of the way of other mixers.

It also has hints of caramel and vanilla for a well-rounded dessert. 

9. Garrison Brothers Honeydew Texas Honey Bourbon

Bottle of Garrison Brothers Honeydew Texas Honey Bourbon

Average Price: around $69.99 /750ml (Caskers)

Alcohol Content: 40% ABV 

Why We Like It: Garrison Brothers use honey to make their bourbon. Then, they aged it in steel tanks for seven months, resulting in a delicious blend of Texas wildflower honey.

The flavor of Garrison Brothers HoneyDew is exceptional, and it’s not overly sweet.

It features a strong honey flavor with hints of charred oak, caramel, and a floral finish. 

While this is a pricey bottle, it’s worth the wait and the cost. This bourbon is made with real wildflower honey, which is incredibly well done.

8. Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate

Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Bottle

Average Price: around $24.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 30% ABV 

Why We Like It: This sweet and creamy Ballotin Peanut Butter Chocolate Bourbon can be enjoyed on its own or mixed with cocktails. 

It features a smooth whiskey finish that prevents it from being cloying or too sweet.

This is the perfect drink if you enjoy a little sweetness after a meal, especially after dinner.

Also, if you’re one of those people who always find the perfect treat at the end of a trick-or-treat season, then this Ballotin Bourbon is for you. 

This Kentucky-based whiskey is made with two of the most popular flavors in the world: chocolate and peanut butter –making a great whiskey. 

7. Brown Sugar Bourbon Whiskey

Heritage Distilling Co Brown Sugar Bourbon Bottle

Average Price: around $14.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 30% ABV 

Why We Like It: Brown Sugar Bourbon is a great addition to any cocktail or shot.

Plus, the combination of its flavors – cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and caramel notes make it an ideal choice for any occasion.

On the nose, it has a rich cinnamon and brittle vanilla flavor. Then, on the palate, it combines warm caramels and cinnamon. 

The medium-length finish features a touch of after-burn, making it a memorable drink.

Also, its medium amber color is surely attractive, inviting you to sip more. 

6. Wild Turkey American Honey Sting

Wild Turkey American Honey Sting Bottle and a glass

Average Price: around $18.49 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 35.5% ABV 

Why We Like It: American Honey is a blend of Wild Turkey’s Kentucky-style Bourbon and honey. 

Although it’s good, if you want to get some real fire in your blood, this is the time to try the American Honey Sting.

This drink gets a bit spicy with the addition of ghost peppers.

Overall, this is a very smooth and sweet honey-infused spirit with a slight sting on the back of the palate.

It’s sticky, though (from honey), but it’s easy to drink.

Read: Wild Turkey Bourbon List

5. Jim Beam Kentucky Fire Bourbon Whiskey

Close Up Shot of Jim Beam Kentucky Fire Bottle

Average Price: around $24.99 /750ml (Caskers)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: For those who prefer a more subtle flavor, Jim Beam offers a more sophisticated take on classic Tabasco.

This drink has a bit more sophistication with hints of sweetness and fire.

The Jim Beam Kentucky Fire is a versatile drink that you can use as a sipper or a shot. Its primary flavor is cinnamon spice. 

So this drink’s sweet and slightly mellow characteristics make it a great choice for those late autumn nights.

“A good gulp of hot whiskey at bedtime—it’s not very scientific, but it helps.” – Alexander Fleming, Scientist/Inventor

4. Jim Beam Red Stag Bourbon

Jim Beam Red Stag Bourbon Bottle and 2 can of coke

Average Price: around $24.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 40% ABV 

Why We Like It: Since 2009, Jim Beam Red Stag Bourbon has been one of the first flavored whiskeys to hit the market. 

Based on our taste test, Red Stag is a great blend of dark cherry liquor– combined with Jim Beam’s famous vanilla and oaky taste.

Therefore, this is a perfect drink for the Red Stag fans.

Also, what we love about this blend is that it cuts down on the sweet taste of maraschino-based drinks.

You can use it to make an old-fashioned, mixed with Dr. Pepper or any cocktail drink. 

3. Jim Beam Vanilla

Jim Beam Vanilla Bottle and a glass on top of table

Average Price: around $11.99 /750ml (Total Wine)

Alcohol Content: 35% ABV 

Why We Like It: A Kentucky classic gets a sweet spin with Jim Beam Vanilla. This is a great addition to any occasion where you’re craving a bit of sweetness and fond memories.

This spirit combines the raw flavor of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean with the classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 

So the resulting drink is rich and full-bodied with hints of oak and pairs perfectly with cola.

No one would question why this bottle is on this list because, aside from its a Jim Beam spirit (which is already excellent), it has the real flavor of vanilla and whiskey at one. 

2. Few Cold Cut Cold Brew Coffee Flavored Bourbon Whiskey

Few Cold Cut Coffee Bourbon Bottle

Average Price: around $43.49 /750ml (Caskers)

Alcohol Content: 46.5% ABV 

Why We Like It: If you’re a fan of Irish coffee, you know that pairing whiskey and coffee is a good thing. 

That’s why the makers of FEW bourbons decided to create a Cold Cut Cold Brew Coffee flavored whiskey. 

This blend of their straight bourbon and cold brew coffee is a delightful and subtle drink that will make coffee lovers happy. 

This bourbon has hints of peanut butter and chocolate, and its finish has a peppery taste.

This drink is a great addition to any cocktail or any home bar.

1. Old Forester Mint Julep

Old Forester Mint Julep Bottle and a cocktail glass drink

Average Price: around $36.99 /1000ml (Caskers)

Alcohol Content: 43% ABV 

Why We Like It: This Mint Julep is our favorite flavored bourbon. It is a traditional drink for the Kentucky Derby [2] made with a combination of fresh mint, bourbon, and simple syrup. 

It’s typically served over a mound of ice. Also, it’s a simple yet refreshing drink that you make more simple by adding a bourbon base over shaved ice.

Although some reviews claim that this bourbon has a minty flavor similar to toothpaste, it seems to hold its own profile. 

The simple syrup tends to make this taste sweet, but once it’s poured over ice, it becomes more palatable. 

Are Flavored Bourbons Real Bourbons? 

Flavored bourbons are not real bourbons; they’re just a drink with bourbon as the main ingredient.

But flavored ones are more sophisticated compared to other drinks. 

Most flavored whiskeys are simple, with just one flavor that you can taste.

The most common flavors are maple, cherry, peach, apple, cinnamon, and honey. 

Additionally, you can find some rare flavors like banana and mango. 

FAQs 

Can a flavored bourbon whiskey get you drunk?

Yes, a flavored bourbon whiskey can get you drunk. It also contains alcohol –but some are low-proof– so drinking too much can get you tipsy. 

What’s the best-flavored bourbon whiskey to drink straight?

The best-flavored bourbon to drink straight is the Knob Creek Smoked Maple Bourbon, besides the Old Forester Mint Julep.
These spirits’ smoothness and flavors are enough to enjoy them straight up. 

Are flavored bourbons popular?

Yes, flavored bourbons have gained popularity for their unique and diverse flavor options, appealing to a wide range of palates.

What are some examples of flavored bourbons?

Some examples of flavored bourbons include honey bourbon, cherry bourbon, cinnamon bourbon, and maple bourbon.

How are flavors added to bourbon?

Flavors can be added to bourbon through various methods, including infusing the whiskey with natural ingredients, aging the bourbon in flavored barrels, or blending it with flavored liqueurs.

Can flavored bourbon be enjoyed neat or in cocktails?

Yes, flavored bourbon can be enjoyed neat to savor its unique flavors or used as a base for cocktails, adding depth and complexity to drinks.

Is flavored bourbon suitable for traditional bourbon drinkers?

Flavored bourbon may appeal to traditional bourbon drinkers looking to explore new flavor profiles or enjoy a twist on classic cocktails.

Final Verdict

Naturally, no additives are needed to make whiskey taste good. However, some people still prefer to explore other flavors.

So for a bold twist, try any of the flavored bourbon whiskeys above instead of diluting or adding mixers to satisfy your taste buds. 

Start with our most recommended Old Forester Mint Julep and proceed with all the remaining flavored spirits. Cheers!

References:

  1. https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/07/the-scientific-arms-race-to-age-our-whiskey/ 
  2. https://www.britannica.com/sports/Kentucky-Derby 
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