Please note that whiskies made by craft distilleries are listed on Fine Examples.
Blanton’s Original Single Barrel (103 proof/51.5%) Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazarac). The single barrel that officially started it all.
Booker’s (bottled at varying proofs) Jim Beam Distillery (Beam Suntory). A classic slap-and-stare-you-down small batch bourbon.
Bulleit Bourbon (90 proof /45%) Distillery not divulged (Diageo). Good example of a high rye bourbon – as is the slightly weaker version. Try the Bulleit Rye too.
Colonel EH Taylor Small Batch (100 proof/50%) Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazarac) Not always easy to get, but a first-class bourbon, and reasonably priced considering.
Four Roses Single Barrel (100 proof/50%) Four Roses Distillery (Kirin). For the absolute beginner and for the absolute connoisseur. A Buddha of bourbons.
George T Stagg (varying bottling proof, though known to hit a staggering 142 proof/71%) Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazarac). One to be tried in army fatigues.
Johnny Drum Private Stock (101 proof/50.5%) Distillery not divulged. Broker and bottler: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD). Excellent bang-for-your-buck whisky.
Noah’s Mill (114.3 proof/57.15%) Distillery not divulged. Broker and bottler: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD). Huge, experimental, ballsy. After this, try Rowan’s Creek – also KBD.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (proof varies) Early Times Distillery (Brown Forman). Though not the easiest to find, and changes from year to year, an excellent value bourbon.
Rittenhouse Straight Rye (100 proof/50%) Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery (Heaven Hill). Really good rye. If you’re willing to spend, and can find it, then try the 25-year-old.
Sazarac 18 (90 proof/45%) Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazarac). One of the best straight ryes ever. The younger, higher strength Thomas H Handy is equally fine.
Wild Turkey 101 (101 proof/52%) Wild Turkey Distillery (Bacardi). Massive mouth-filler. Perfect example of why low-strength barrel fills get so much more from the wood.
W L Weller 12 (90 proof/45%) Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazarac). For many, the demi-god of wheated bourbons.