So, you’re looking for some fine bourbon, eh?
You’ve come to the right place.
There are tons of great bottles you can buy for $100 or less that have deep, rich flavor profiles.
But which should you choose?
After all, $100 isn’t petty cash and you don’t want to end up with a bottle that tastes like $20.
Our 18 Best Bourbons Under $100 for Fall 2024 has plenty of variety. A great evening of sipping awaits you no matter which of these you choose to invite along.
How We Picked the Best Bourbons Under $100
Before we dive in, it’s important to know how we set this thing up…
This list is ordered by total value (price + taste).
Some may argue that some bourbons lower on the list actually taste better than others.
This is a fair point, but keep in mind what we’re shooting for: the best bourbons at this price point based on total value.
And with the $100 and under price point, there are tons of bourbons to choose from.
You may also notice some expressions of Weller, Stagg Jr., Van Winkle, and other rare bourbons didn’t make this list.
This isn’t because they aren’t worthy of being featured, it’s because their real price is significantly above their MSRP and can’t be purchased easily for $100 or less.
Now that we got the business out of the way, let’s dive in.
Interested in bourbons under $30 or under $50 instead? We have articles for those price ranges too:
The Best Bourbon Under $100 for 2024 [Fall Update]
1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Price: $70
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: Known for its bold and intense flavor, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a favorite among bourbon enthusiasts. The high proof and uncut, unfiltered nature provide a robust and full-bodied experience. It’s perfect for those who appreciate a strong bourbon.
Consistently praised as one of the best bottles you can buy under $100, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof balances sweet and spicy notes like Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel. With pronounced flavors of brown sugar, caramel, and more, it delivers on intensity. It’s a touch on the hot side (not from rye, but from the alcohol), so keep that in mind if you prefer a more subdued bourbon.
Click here to read the review.
2. Wyoming Whiskey Outryder
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey
Why It Makes Our List: Outryder offers a unique blend of bourbon and rye, resulting in a rich and complex character. The extreme temperature swings in Wyoming contribute to its distinctive qualities.
Click here to read the review.
3. Hard Truth Bottled-in-Bond Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey
MSRP: $55
Distillery: Hard Truth Distilling Company
Why It Makes Our List: Hard Truth B-n-B Wheated Bourbon is a pleasure from the first pull of the cork until the finish. It is a unique sipper that delights on the Nose, Palate and the Finish.
4. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This cask strength version of Maker’s Mark offers a more intense and flavorful experience. The wheated mashbill provides a smooth and sweet profile. It’s ideal for those who enjoy a bold bourbon.
5. Knob Creek 12 Year
MSRP: $70
Distillery: Knob Creek Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: Aged for 12 years, this bourbon offers a rich and full-bodied experience. The extended aging process adds depth and complexity, making it a standout choice for sipping.
The extra 3 years in the barrel compared to Knob Creek 9-year is immediately noticeable and worth the extra cost if you’re a fan of the Knob Creek flavor profile. It’s like a vanilla bomb and, for some, even better than Knob Creek 15 (which some feel is aged a bit too long). I’ll share my thoughts on KC 15 in a future review.
Click here to read the review.
6. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Wild Turkey Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This single barrel bourbon offers a rich and complex character. It’s highly regarded by bourbon lovers. This incredible bottle is rye-forward and packed with character, finding the perfect balance between sweet and spicy. It’s a great value, often delivering notes of dark fruit, toffee, and several other pronounced flavors that add depth and complexity—making it a standout choice at this price point.
Click here to read the detailed review
7. Peg Leg Porker 12 Year
MSRP: $80
Distillery: Peg Leg Porker Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This 12-year-old bourbon offers a rich and smoky character. The unique hickory charcoal filtering process adds a distinctive touch, making it a standout.
8. Belle Meade Reserve
MSRP: $70
Distillery: Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This high-proof bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The small-batch production ensures a high-quality product with unique qualities. Excellent for both sipping and cocktails.
This small-batch bourbon is reminiscent of an apple pie with deep notes of caramel, cinnamon, and baking spices. It also has great character and richness to round it out, achieving a nice balance. That being said, it is on the sweeter end of things than other bourbons in this list.
Click here to read our detailed review.
9. Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: Aged for 10 years, this single barrel bourbon offers depth and complexity, making it a standout choice for sipping. This is a quintessential bourbon that offers something just about every bourbon enthusiast can love.
The issue here is the price and availability. Its MSRP is $30, and you really can’t find it for under $80 these days because it’s allocated. If it were cheaper, it would no doubt be higher on the list. But it’s still really solid nonetheless.
10. Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company
Why It Makes Our List: This unique bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The small-batch production ensures a high-quality product with unique qualities. It’s perfect for both sipping and cocktails.
11. Fort Mose 1738
MSRP: $52
Distillery: Palm Beach Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: Named after the first free Black town in the United States, this bourbon offers a rich and smooth experience. The historical significance and unique qualities make it a standout choice.
Click here to read the detailed review
12. Ben Holladay Bottled-in-Bond
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Holladay Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This bottled-in-bond bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The strict production standards ensure a high-quality product with a bold and satisfying experience.
13. Smoke Wagon Small Batch
MSRP: $60
Distillery: Nevada H&C Distilling Co.
Why It Makes Our List: This small batch bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The small-batch production ensures a high-quality product with unique qualities. It’s an excellent option for both sipping and cocktails.
Click here to read the detailed review
14. Frank August Small Batch
MSRP: $70
Distillery: Frank August Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This small batch bourbon offers a high-quality and pleasant experience. The minimalist and contemporary design of the bottle adds to its appeal.
15. Four Roses Small Batch Select
MSRP: $55
Distillery: Four Roses Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The small batch production ensures a unique and high-quality product. It’s a versatile bourbon that’s great for both sipping and mixing.
16. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep
MSRP: $100
Distillery: Wild Turkey Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This limited edition bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The high proof and uncut nature provide a bold and intense experience. It’s a must-try for serious bourbon fans.
17. Michter’s US★1 Toasted Barrel Finish
MSRP: $80
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This unique bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The toasted barrel finish adds depth and complexity, making it a standout choice for sipping.
18. Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well
MSRP: $100
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery
Why It Makes Our List: This bourbon offers a rich and complex character. The high proof and uncut nature provide a bold and intense experience. It’s a superb option for both sipping and cocktails.
What About Barrel Picks?
Barrel picks (also known as “store picks”) are awesome, but they weren’t included in the list above because the specifics will vary so widely.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider them, though.
Stores often offer barrel picks from great brands like Four Roses and Maker’s Mark that are single barrel and barrel strength (also called “cask strength”).
And depending on the price and proof, they could be a great buy.
Guess What? You Can’t Go Wrong with Any of These Bourbons Under $100
While we ranked these bourbons based on our tastings, research, and overall preferences, you really can’t go wrong with any of them.
They all will deliver rich flavor profiles that’ll make you glad you bought a bourbon in this pricepoint to try.
If you try any of these bourbons or have questions, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop us a note at mike@bourboninspector.com. Your feedback helps us improve our recommendations!
Mike Long is a staff writer at Bourbon Inspector and has an Executive Bourbon Steward designation from the Stave and Thief Society. He’s a former “wine guy” who discovered his love for bourbon years back at a spur-of-the-moment bourbon tasting he attended. He also loves traveling throughout America with his wife of over 37 years, Debby.