What is the Best-Tasting Bourbon Whiskey?

Personal preference always dictates which bourbon tastes best.

This question, at best, will spark plenty of debate. It can also cause a heated discussion. You first must remove any bias from the conversation. No relying on what you think you know. The best method for finding an acceptable answer to discovering the best-tasting bourbon whiskey starts with understanding what makes up its taste and flavor profile. Again, this is subjective, as the ability to taste and smell differences varies.

Basics for Determining the Best-Tasting  Bourbon Whiskey

Let’s start with the basics. All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon. This is because the composition of bourbon begins with a mash that contains at least 51% corn. A mash is a mixture of grains (corn, barley, wheat, rye, malted grains) used to provide the flavor for the spirit and sugars for fermenting. The only other ingredient for a bourbon/whiskey mash is water. The federal government dictates the corn percentage in the mash, not some distiller in the heart of Kentucky. 

Bourbon must contain a specific alcohol by volume (ABV) throughout the distilling, aging, and bottling process. Barrels used for bourbon are made using new oak wood and then charred. The aging process takes a minimum of two years. Finally, the United States is the only country allowed to produce bourbon.

How Come the Taste of Bourbon Varies?

The mash, barrel, yeast, and even the proof of the bourbon can dictate what flavors you can taste. But, if all bourbon must follow the same requirements to be bourbon, shouldn’t it all taste the same? Well, no. A distiller must meet those requirements but have flexibility in creating a distinctive taste. In addition, people’s taste buds vary in what/how food and drink tastes so one person may taste a flavor more strongly, while another may taste something else.

The taste of bourbon for most people tends to fall into several categories including:

• Sweet – attributed to the charred oak barrel and has flavors including vanilla and butterscotch

• Spicey hot – typical of bourbons having a proof of 90 and higher, attributed to a higher level of rye in the mash (yet still containing at least 51% corn)

• Spices – such as allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg possibly because of the grains used in the mash, fermentation, or the barrels used

• Nutty/woody – flavors such as almond, pecan, and oak can appear, resulting from a longer aging in the barrel.

You could taste a floral flavor caused by the yeast during fermentation. A cereal taste is possible also, depending on the grains used in the mash.

Tasting Bourbon is an Experience

Tasting bourbon is very much an experience versus an event. Many factors affect how a bourbon is perceived. The complexity of the aroma, flavors, and appearance are just one aspect.

How does the bourbon look? Is the color light or rich and deep? Is it clear?

Swirl the liquid in your glass. What do you smell? Spices? Caramel? Possibly vanilla? Take a sip. Is what you taste different from the aroma? Does the flavor change from the initial taste to the finish of swallowing?

Where you taste the bourbon also affects your perception. Tasting bourbon with a group can be different from tasting alone. Groups tend to interact, raising awareness of aspects a lone person may skim over. Groups also tend to make tasting more festive and enjoyable, but everyone is different.

Now might be a great time to dive into the best-tasting bourbon experience by visiting one of the many distilleries in Wisconsin. As always, enjoy in moderation. Let us know what you discover as your best-tasting bourbon in the comments below.