It’s time to chuck some tea in the river, mutter darkly about ‘redcoats’ and buy an enormous pick-up truck because American independence day is on the horizon. Yea haw! Or you could just get one of our American whiskeys for 4 July. Much more fun.
The United States tends to do everything bigger so it’s no surprise that, when it comes to American whiskey, we’re pretty spoilt for choice. But with so many options it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to picking up the finest bottle of bourbon or rye whiskey. That’s why we’d like to help out. This selection is full of some of our favourite expressions and the best part is, they all cost less than £60. So whether you’re celebrating the the birth of a nation, full of regret at leaving the British Empire or just want something delicious to drink, here are ten superb American whiskeys for 4 July.
Ten American whiskeys for 4 July
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye
To qualify as Bottled-in-Bond a whiskey must be from a single distillery and single distilling season, aged in a bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years, and bottled at at least 100 proof – 50% ABV. Bonded Rye is made with a mashbill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley. Like the classic No. 7, this is filtered through charcoal after distillation and aged in new American oak casks.
How does it taste?
An enticing mixture of sweet soft fruits mingling with cinnamon, ginger, clove and vanilla with big spices on the palate and sweeter notes of toffee, dried fruit and chocolate.
Four Roses Small Batch bourbon
Four Roses Small Batch is a step up from the classic Four Roses Bourbon, showcasing the variety of mashbills that the distillers have to work with in Lawrenceburg – and their talents at making them sing together. Ten bourbon recipes are produced by Four Roses, and four of then are blended together to create this approachable but flavoursome expression. Great value-for-money stuff.
What does it taste like?
The palate is much full with a lovely balance. There are notes of manuka honey, winter spice, toasty oak, a little crème Anglaise and thick fruit.
Buffalo Trace
A classic example of what a Kentucky straight bourbon should be, this is the kind of bourbon you need to have in your home bar. The award-winning core Buffalo Trace expression is a personal favourite of mine thanks to its incredible value, delicious taste and versatility, which has also made it a go-to for many bourbon lovers over the years. It’s also a great one for beginners if you’re new to the category.
What does it taste like?
Spicy and sweet with caramel, creamy toffee eclairs, hints of cinnamon, rum spice, cereal sweetness, brown sugar, toffee apple, sweet oak, custard, oily espresso beans, a touch of chocolate-covered raisins and toasty wood.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey begins life being aged in the same way as the classic Woodford Reserve. The mash bill features a high percentage of rye (72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malt). It is further matured in barrels which have been heavily toasted and lightly charred. This imparts an added depth of sweet oaken character to the whiskey, as well as developing the fruit, vanilla and caramel notes making this delicious neat and in an Old Fashioned.
What does it taste like?
Take a smell and you’ll find black cherries, toffee, dark chocolate, honey and toasted almonds and then in the mouth it’s rich and full with notes of baked apples, cinnamon, cloves and caramel.
Sazerac Straight Rye
You can’t have a round-up of American whiskey without a great rye bottling and this is one truly tasty rye whiskey. It’s a category that’s synonymous with the cocktail and, while you might have enjoyed some of these serves with bourbon, the likes of the Manhattan, the Old Fashioned and the Sazerac were all created with rye whiskey. It seems fitting, then, to recommend an expression that was named for the Sazerac Coffee House in New Orleans, the birthplace of the famous cocktail.
What does it taste like?
Sweet with spices and stem ginger in syrup, orange zest, freshly ground black pepper, Seville orange marmalade, allspice, peanut butter, toffee and barrel char develop later on.
Black & Gold 11 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon with an age statement is not something you see much of, neither is bourbon from Tennessee for that matter. But Black & Gold is no ordinary bourbon. This showstopper was distilled from a corn-forward mash bill, (84-8-8, corn-rye-barley) and aged in slowly-charred barrels to create a rich, complex and slightly savoury profile, with enough of that classic American oak sweetness to keep it honest. As the bottle says, “Fire made it good”.
What does it taste like?
Dense vanilla, toasted brown sugar atop apple pie, gingersnaps, cinnamon sticks, caramelised nuts, cask char, earthy cigar box, a touch of maple syrup, forest floor richness and chocolate sweetness.
Maker’s Mark 46
The classic Maker’s Mark is an all-time favourite for any sound-of-mind bourbon lover, but today we thought we’d draw your attention to the brand’s first line extension since the ’50s. Maker’s 46 is essentially the original bumped up a notch, with a bolder, spicier profile that was attained by inserting seared French oak staves into the barrels (with the stave profile “number 46” – thus the name). We can confirm it worked a treat.
What does it taste like?
Dense vanilla, toasted brown sugar atop apple pie, gingersnaps, cinnamon sticks, caramelised nuts, cask char, earthy cigar box, a touch of maple syrup, forest floor richness and chocolate sweetness.
Balcones Baby Blue Corn
Corn Whiskeys are one of the oldest styles of American whiskey and for a good while, they took a backseat and had to watch as their cousin bourbon stole the show (the difference between the two is that the mash bill for corn whiskey must be at least 80% corn, whereas for bourbon it’s 51% , if you were wondering). Recently, however, their production has enjoyed a renaissance and one of the finest examples is this beauty, which is not only the first Texan whiskey, but the first whiskey to be distilled from blue corn! If you want to understand this historical style and what all the fuss is about, then this is a great place to start.
What does it taste like?
Soft vanilla, candied peel, caramelised bananas, toasted oak, dark caramel, baked apple, salted apple, baking spices and a little creamy cereal sweetness.
Daddy Rack Small Batch Straight Tennessee Whiskey
Founder J. Arthur Rackham spent more than five decades working in the booze business before creating his own Tennessee Whiskey, which is named after a moniker his daughter gave him. It’s made with a mash bill of corn (80%), rye (10%) and malted barley (10%), the former coming from local farmers within 50 miles of the distillery. Once the milling of the grains has taken place a 72-hour sour mash follows, then double distillation.
What does it taste like?
Cherry jam, cinnamon swirls, mocha, caramelised nuts, dark chocolate, cooked plum, nutmeg, golden syrup and candy floss, with sultanas, honey and vanilla cola in support.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded Rye
Old Forester 1870 Batch
The 1870 Original Batch is the first release in the Old Forester Whisky Row series, paying tribute to the brand’s origins. As a nod to the original batching process used by Old Forester’s founder, George Garvin Brown, this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey combines liquid from three different warehouses to create a harmonious, smooth bourbon.
What does it taste like?
Spiced shortbread, with candied mixed peel, and drizzles of vanilla syrup on the nose with citrus, nutmeg, black pepper, and warm biscuits on the palate. Get this in a Whisky Sour.
