Bourbon has a sweeter flavor profile than other whiskey styles because of its mash bill and the aging process.
But bourbon lovers will surely raise their eyebrows once they hear about honey bourbon because, for them, infusing flavors in bourbon whiskey is an extreme abomination.
But not all honey-infused bourbon deserves hate because the best honey bourbon brands will give you the good stuff. Scroll down to find out.
Top 10 Best Honey Bourbon Brands
10. Bärenjäger Honey Bourbon
Average Price: Roughly $31.49 (Total Wine)
ABV: 35%
Why We Like It:
Bärenjäger Honey Bourbon is a blend of American bourbon whiskey [1] and premium honey liqueur.
Each bottle contains 225 grams of all-natural honey to create one of the best honey bourbon whiskeys known to man.
The honey bourbon has lingering honey notes, which makes it ideal for sipping neat or over ice.
Moreover, it is a versatile flavored whiskey and is a perfect ingredient in various bourbon cocktails.
9. Jesse James Honey
Average Price: Roughly $18.94 (Drizly)
ABV: 35%
Why We Like It:
Jesse James Honey is a great blend of bourbon whiskey infused with honey flavors. The bourbon whiskey is aged in new charred oak barrels for 36 months for a richer and more flavorful taste.
You can enjoy the honey bourbon neat or on the rocks, but it lends a nice flavor profile for cocktails.
8. Savannah Bourbon & Honey
Average Price: Roughly $42.99 (Drizly)
ABV: 35%
Why We Like It:
Savannah bourbon and honey is a farm-to-bottle bourbon and a combination of bourbon whiskey and rare sourwood honey from Savannah Bee Co.
Savannah 88 Straight bourbon is one of the first bourbons brought to the market after Prohibition.
It is crafted using premium corn and spring water from Blue Ridge Mountain.
7. Garrison Brothers Honey Dew
Average Price: Roughly $89.99 (Total Wine)
ABV: 40%
Why We Like It:
Garrison Brothers Honey Dew is an award-winning small-batch bourbon infused with Texas wildflower honey.
It is a combination of small batch bourbon, and after aging, it is placed inside a stainless steel tank with honey for seven months.
Garrison Brothers Honey Dew is smooth, sweet, and light bourbon with a sweet honey finish.
6. Bird Dog Honey Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $19.99 (Sip Whiskey)
ABV: 40%
Why We Like It:
Bird Dog Honey Whiskey is one of the latest additions of Bird Dog expressions, and it is bottled at 80 proof.
It is a combination of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and all-natural honey.
The result is a sweet, smooth, and flavorful whiskey complemented with hits of oak and caramel.
Since the whiskey features delicious honey notes, you can drink the whiskey neat or mix it with one of the custom cocktails of Bird Dog.
5. Evan Williams Honey
Average Price: Roughly $14.99 (Drizly)
ABV: 32.5%
Why We Like It:
Evan Williams is a popular flavor-infused bourbon in the market today.
The bourbon whiskey combines smooth Evan Williams Kentucky Straight whiskey and real all-natural honey.
Evan Williams Honey has strong citrus, whiskey, and honey notes on the nose.
On the palate, it is sweet with sweet honey, vanilla, smoke, and allspice notes.
The flavored whiskey is versatile, so you can consume it without mixers, on the rocks, or as a refreshing cocktail.
4. Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $14.99 (Drizly)
ABV: 35.5%
Why We Like It:
Wild Turkey American Honey Whiskey is the first honey-flavored bourbon recipe created by Jimmy Russell in the 1970s.
In 2006, it was renamed American Honey, a great blend of Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey and pure honey.
The American Honey combines the deep-rooted tradition of bourbon whiskey and an amazing modern twist of all-natural honey.
3. Black Eagle Honey Bourbon Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $79.99 (Cask Cartel)
ABV: 35%
Why We Like It:
Give a new twist with the extremely smooth Black Eagle Kentucky bourbon whiskey by infusing the whiskey with sweet Southern honey.
The combination of real Southern Honey and the old-style hand-crafted bourbon blends perfectly.
The aroma is complex and has a rich, oaky, bold flavor profile with a lasting finish.
2. Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon
Average Price: Roughly $56.99 (Drizly)
ABV: 53%
Why We Like It:
Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon is a part of the cask-finished and experimental bourbons of the brand, and it was released last 2021.
It is a blend of bourbon sourced from seven cask-strength barrels and local wildflower honey from TruBee Honey Farm in Tennessee.
TruBee Honey Farm will fill the bourbon barrels with wildflower honey to age and produce barrel-aged honey.
The honey barrels are then filled with the proprietary blend for additional 6-8 months.
1. Jim Beam Honey Bourbon Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $20.49 (Total Wine)
ABV: 35%
Why We Like It:
Jim Beam Honey Bourbon whiskey is bold as bourbon and sweet as honey.
It has a nice touch of golden honey that lends warm sweetness with mellow smoothness from the bourbon.
This flavored whiskey is the bee’s knees if you want a cocktail on the sweeter side or a nice sipper.
It is a combination of honey liquor and amazing Jim Beam bourbon.
Together, it creates a mellow, sweet, and easy bourbon that is relaxing enough to be consumed neat but bold enough for cocktails.
Read: Jim Beam Honey & Jack Daniel’s Honey Comparison
FAQs
Is honey bourbon sweet?
Yes, honey bourbon is sweet, but not too sweet.
It has a nice kick and boldness from the bourbon whiskey, and the honey notes compliment the spirit’s vanilla and caramel flavor profile.
What is the smoothest honey bourbon?
Jim Beam Honey Bourbon is the smoothest honey bourbon.
It has a warm sweetness that shines, and the mellow smoothness of the bourbon is remarkable. The smoothness of the whiskey makes it an easy sipper.
Which honey bourbon is considered the best?
The best honey bourbon can vary depending on personal taste preferences, but some popular options include Wild Turkey American Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, and Evan Williams Honey Reserve.
What flavors can I expect from honey bourbon?
Honey bourbon typically offers a balance of sweet honey flavors with the characteristic caramel, vanilla, and oak notes of bourbon, creating a smooth and enjoyable taste profile.
Is honey bourbon suitable for sipping neat?
Yes, many people enjoy sipping honey bourbon neat to fully appreciate its flavor profile, but it can also be enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktails.
Can I use honey bourbon in cocktails?
Absolutely! Honey bourbon adds a deliciously sweet twist to classic cocktails like the Honey Bourbon Smash, Honey Bourbon Lemonade, and Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned.
Final Verdict
Honey and bourbon go extremely well, and that is not a surprise because both ingredients are often found in many cocktail recipes.
There are different honey bourbon brands in the market today, as many whiskey producers have embraced innovations in flavored whiskey.
Evan Williams, Wild Turkey, and Black Eagle are some of the best honey bourbon brands, but Jim Beam gets the upper hand.
It has a perfect blend of real honey sweetness and mellow goodness from the bourbon whiskey.
It stands out on cocktails and is smooth enough to be consumed neat and on the rocks.
Reference:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/bourbon-whiskey
