These bourbons are ideal for National Bourbon Day, which falls on the 14 June.
They qualify for two reasons:
- They be bourbon
- They be tasty
There you have it. A top 10 bourbons perfect for National Bourbon Day. Yes, it’s a US celebration but we love bourbon too so why not get involved?
Top 10 bourbon whiskies to try this National Bourbon Day
Colonel EH Taylor Small Batch Whiskey 70cl
Named after a legendary figure in bourbon history, this smooth and balanced bourbon has a genuinely complex and rewarding profile with notes of butterscotch, caramel corn, and subtle spices.
Black & Gold 11 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 70cl
An 11-year-old bourbon here, for those who like their bourbon bold but still refined. The extended maturation period enhances the depth without making this taste like licking bark. Instead, you get notes of brown sugar, decadent vanilla, and a touch of oak.
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition Whiskey 70cl
Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition is very fancy. So fancy, in fact, it was given a huge three-year-long finishing period in XO Cognac casks. A wealth of rich fruit and mature oak notes give this whiskey a luxurious quality matched by its handsome bespoke Baccarat decanters.
American Bourbon 10 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company) 70cl Whiskey
This is a 10-year-old Straight Bourbon Whiskey was distilled from a classic corn-forward mash bill (77% corn) and aged in deeply charred American oak barrels. It’s really, really delicious. That is all.
Kentucky Owl Bourbon – Batch 12 Whiskey 70cl
The Kentucky Owl range is full of whiskeys blended using some brilliant stocks and then released in small batches. This here is batch 12, which has been bottled up at 57.9% ABV and boasts flavours of fudge, black tea, old oak, chocolate chip cookies and rich vanilla.
Elijah Craig Single Barrel 18 Year Old 70cl Whiskey
Another whiskey named after a legendary figure in bourbon history and another golden oldie. The brand are masters at knowing how to mature whiskey for a long time in the Kentucky heat. This is a perfect example, sweet and supple but not overly spicy.
Shenk’s Homestead (2025 Release) 70cl Whiskey
Another legacy honoured? This is getting silly now. Can’t deny the whiskey though. Bottled to salute the man behind the 18th-century distillery that would eventually become Michter’s, the 2025 edition of Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey stands out for its use of toasted-only French oak barrels sourced from the Vosges region of France, naturally air-dried and seasoned for 24 months before being toasted to Michter’s exacting standards.
Kings County Peated Bourbon 70cl Whiskey
Have you ever had peated bourbon before? This hybrid whiskey from New York’s Kings County was made from a mashbill that includes malted barley exposed to peat smoke. Not even close to a gimmick, this is the real deal.
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Straight Wheated Bourbon – Origin Series 70cl Whiskey
I love wheated bourbon. I could have shouted out Ben Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bourbon – Rickhouse Proof or The Story Of The Bootzamon Wheated Bourbon. But this Bardstown beauty just sings with its bready, pastry-like character thanks to a long maturation (6 years +) and a whopping 39% wheat in the mashbill, alongside 53% corn, and 8% malted barley.
New Riff – The Heart Cut #22 50cl Whiskey
The 22nd bottling from The Heart Cut is also its first bourbon. And who else than New Riff! Created from a mash bill of 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, it’s a small batch blend of three new American oak casks brought together in sweet, sweet harmony.
