The alcoholic spirit, whiskey, consists of fermented grains, such as barley, corn, rye, and wheat. The fermented grain mixture is distilled to produce a high-proof spirit, then aged in oak barrels.
The aging process gives the whiskey a distinctive color, flavor, and aroma.
Whiskey has a long and rich history in the US, dating back to the colonial era when early settlers brought their distillation skills to the New World.
Whiskey has become a crucial part of American culture and heritage, with many brands and styles becoming synonymous with the country.
Popular whiskey brands include Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, etc. Below, I will discuss the most popular whiskey in the US, so let’s jump right in.
20 Most Popular Whiskey in the US You MUST Try!
People of all ages and backgrounds widely enjoy whiskey in the US.
There’s a wide selection of brands to suit various tastes and preferences, from smooth and mellow bourbons to bold and spicy ryes and from affordable and accessible options to high-end, premium selections for connoisseurs.
Whether you prefer neat whiskey, on the rocks, or in cocktails, there’s a whiskey brand for you.
The drinks international annual report suggests that the best-selling whiskey brands in the US include Maker’s Mark, Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, Michter’s, Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniels, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Rittenhouse, and Elijah Craig.
These brands offer a variety of whiskey styles, including bourbon, rye, and blended whiskey. Let’s discuss each brand and make a well-informed choice.
1. Jack Daniel’s
Jack Daniel’s whiskey consists of a mash bill of 80% corn, 12% barley, and 8% rye, and it’s distilled and aged in charred American white oak barrels.
The flavor profile of Jack Daniel’s is characterized by its notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, with a smooth and slightly smoky finish.
The ABV of Jack Daniel’s ranges between 40% and 50%, depending on the product.
Moreover, this drink is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging, a process known as the “Lincoln County Process,” which is a defining characteristic of Tennessee whiskey.
Standard Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey can range between $20 and $35 for a 750ml bottle in the US. However, prices can vary in different countries or regions.
2. Jim Beam
Jim Beam is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made from a mash bill of at least 51% corn, with the remaining ingredients being primarily rye and barley.
It’s aged for at least four years in new charred oak barrels, resulting in a characteristic flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, and oak, with a slightly spicy finish.
Jim Beam’s ABV is often 40%, although they offer higher proof and flavored variations.
The price of Jim Beam can vary depending on the specific product and location. In the US, the standard bottle can range between $15 and $25 for 750ml.
3. Crown Royal
Crown Royal is a Canadian blended whisky made from a blend of 50 different whiskies, primarily corn and rye, and aged in oak barrels. It’s known for its smoothness and the use of a special water source, naturally filtered through limestone.
Crown Royal’s flavor profile is characterized by notes of vanilla, caramel, and spice, with a creamy and smooth finish. Its ABV is typically 40%.
The price of Crown Royal can vary depending on the specific product and location. The standard Crown Royal Deluxe Canadian Blended Whisky in the US can range between $20 and $40 for a 750ml bottle.
4. Maker’s Mark
Maker’s Mark is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made from a mash bill of 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% barley.
It’s aged for about six years in new charred oak barrels, resulting in a unique flavor profile of sweetness, vanilla, and caramel, with a soft and smooth finish.
Maker’s Mark also uses a unique production process, which involves rotating the barrels during aging to ensure consistency across batches. Its ABV is typically 45%.
The price of Maker’s Mark can vary depending on the specific product and location.
The standard Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky in the US can range between $25 and $40 for a 750ml bottle.
5. Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley.
It’s aged for at least six to eight years in new charred oak barrels, giving it a distinctive flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, and spice, with a long and warm finish.
Wild Turkey’s ABV is typically between 40.5% and 50.5%, depending on the product; they also offer rye whiskey and other limited edition releases.
The price of Wild Turkey can vary depending on the specific product and location.
The standard Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey in the US can range between $20 and $30 for a 750ml bottle.
6. Bulleit Bourbon
Bulleit Bourbon is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made from a mash bill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley.
It’s aged for at least six years in new charred oak barrels, resulting in a spicy and bold flavor profile with notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit.
Bulleit Bourbon’s ABV is typically 45%, and they also offer a rye whiskey and other limited edition releases.
The price of Bulleit Bourbon can vary depending on the specific product and location. The standard Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey in the US can range between $20 and $35 for a 750ml bottle.
7. Evan Williams
Evan Williams is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley.
It’s aged for at least four years in new charred oak barrels, which gives it a flavor profile that is sweet and oaky, with notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit.
Evan Williams’ ABV is typically 43%, although they also offer higher proof and flavored variations.
The price of Evan Williams can vary depending on the specific product and location.
In the US, the standard Evan Williams Black Label Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey can range between $15 and $25 for a 750ml bottle.
8. Four Roses
Four Roses is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand known for its smoothness and balanced flavor profile, with caramel, vanilla, and spice notes.
It’s made using a unique blend of 10 different bourbons aged for a minimum of 5 years in new charred oak barrels. The brand offers several expressions, including their classic Yellow Label, Small Batch, Single Barrel, and limited edition releases.
The ABV of Four Roses Bourbon varies depending on the specific expression but often remains 40% for the Yellow Label and over 50% for some higher-end limited releases.
A bottle of Four Roses typically ranges between $20 and $50, depending on the specific variety and the location where it’s sold.
9. Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with a smooth and complex flavor profile. It has caramel, vanilla, spice, and toasted oak notes.
It’s made using a traditional sour mash recipe, aged in new charred oak barrels for a minimum of 6 years. The standard Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Bourbon has an ABV of 45.2%.
The ABV of other expressions within the Woodford Reserve range may vary but usually stays around 45.2% for the Woodford Reserve Rye and 59.2% for the 2022 Woodford Reserve Batch Proof Distiller’s Select.
A bottle of Woodford Reserve typically ranges between $30 and $60.
10. Knob Creek
Knob Creek is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand known for its full-bodied and robust flavor profile, with vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak notes.
Knob Creek is aged for a minimum of nine years and has several expressions, including a Rye Whiskey, Single Barrel Reserve, Smoked Maple Bourbon, and limited edition.
The standard Knob Creek 9-Year Small Batch Bourbon has an ABV of 50%. The Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon has a slightly higher ABV of 60% since it’s bottled at cask strength.
A bottle of Knob Creek typically ranges between $30 and $50.
11. Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand that offers a smooth and well-balanced flavor profile with caramel, vanilla, oak, and toffee notes.
It’s made using a high-quality mash bill and is aged for a minimum of 8 years in new charred oak barrels.
Buffalo Trace distillery also produces other types of bourbon, including Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Pappy Van Winkle, which have different flavor profiles.
The ABV of Buffalo Trace Bourbon is typically around 45%. A bottle of Buffalo Trace typically ranges between $30 and $40.
12. Elijah Craig
Elijah Craig is named after the Reverend Elijah Craig, who is credited with being the first to age whiskey in charred oak barrels -a process that is now a defining characteristic of bourbon.
Elijah Craig is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with a rich and complex flavor profile, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak and hints of spice and smoke.
It’s made from a mash bill made with corn, rye, and malted barley and is aged for a minimum of 4 years in new charred oak barrels. Several expressions of this brand include their Small Batch, Barrel Proof, and Toasted Barrel releases.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon has an ABV of 47%. A bottle of Elijah Craig typically ranges between $30 and $50.
13. Basil Hayden’s
Basil Hayden’s is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brand known for its light and approachable flavor profile, with spice, honey, and citrus notes.
It’s made using a higher percentage of rye in the mash bill and is aged for a minimum of 8 years in new charred oak barrels.
The brand offers several expressions, including its classic Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Dark Rye, and limited edition releases.
Basil Hayden’s Bourbon has an ABV of 40%. A bottle of Basil Hayden’s typically ranges between $35 and $50.
14. Blanton’s
Blanton’s is a brand of Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey that is known for its distinctive flavor profile and iconic bottle design. It’s made with a mash bill that is relatively high in rye content compared to some other bourbons and is aged for a minimum of 6 years in new charred oak barrels.
Blanton’s has a rich and complex flavor, typically featuring notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, and oak and hints of spice and fruit. Each bottle of Blanton’s is drawn from a single barrel, which gives it a unique flavor profile that can vary slightly from barrel to barrel.
The brand offers several expressions, including their classic Blanton’s Original, Gold, Straight From The Barrel, and Special Reserve.
The standard Blanton’s Original has an ABV of 46.5%. A bottle of Blanton’s typically ranges between $60 and $100.
15. Pappy Van Winkle
Pappy Van Winkle is a highly sought-after brand of Bourbon Whiskey known for its exceptional quality and rarity. It’s made using a mash bill that includes corn, wheat, and barley and is aged for a minimum of 15 years in new charred oak barrels.
Pappy Van Winkle has a rich and complex flavor profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, and oak and hints of spice and fruit. It’s often considered one of the finest bourbons in the world and is highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts.
The brand offers several different expressions, including their Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year, 20 Year, and 23 Year, among others. Pappy Van Winkle is produced in very limited quantities each year, contributing to its high price and exclusivity.
The ABV of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon varies depending on the specific expression. The Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year has an ABV of 53.5%, the 20 Year has an ABV of 45.2%, and the 23 Year has an ABV of 47.8%.
In terms of price, a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle can range between $1,000 and $4,000 or more, depending on the specific expression and the rarity of the bottling.
16. High West
High West is a distillery in Utah that produces various spirits, including bourbon, rye whiskey, and blended whiskey.
The distillery is known for its innovative and unique blends and commitment to using high-quality ingredients and traditional distilling methods.
High West whiskeys are characterized by their complex and nuanced flavor profiles, with caramel, vanilla, spice, and fruit notes.
Many of the blends are also aged in a variety of different casks, such as oak, port, and wine barrels, which adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the flavor.
The ABV of High West whiskeys varies depending on the specific blend. However, many of their whiskeys are bottled at cask strength, which can range between 46% and 50% ABV or higher.
The price of High West whiskeys can vary depending on the specific blend and market. Generally, a bottle of High West whiskey can range between $40 and $100 or more.
17. Michter’s
Michter’s is a distillery based in Kentucky that produces a variety of premium American whiskeys, including Bourbon, Rye, and American Whiskey.
The distillery is known for its high-quality ingredients, traditional distilling methods, and long aging periods.
Michter’s Bourbon is commonly classified as a small-batch bourbon because Michter’s produces it in limited quantities, carefully selecting a small number of barrels to create each batch.
Michter’s whiskeys are characterized by their smooth and well-balanced flavor profiles, which often feature caramel, vanilla, and spice notes.
Many of the whiskeys are also aged in charred oak barrels, which imparts a distinctive smoky flavor to the spirit.
The ABV of Michter’s whiskeys varies depending on the specific expression. Michter’s American Whiskey has 41.7% ABV, while Michter’s Bourbon has 45.7%ABV.
A Michter’s whiskey bottle can range between $50 and $300 or more. Some of their more unique and limited edition blends may be priced higher than their standard offerings.
18. Angel’s Envy
Angel’s Envy is a distillery in Kentucky that produces a variety of premium American whiskeys, including Bourbon, Rye, and Port-finished Bourbon. The distillery is known for its innovative and unique approach to whiskey-making and its commitment to quality and sustainability.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon Whiskey is aged six years. It’s characterized by its smooth and complex flavor profiles, which often feature notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit, with a subtle hint of spice.
The Port-finished Bourbon, in particular, has a distinctive fruity sweetness from the port cask aging. The ABV of Angel’s Envy whiskeys varies depending on the expression.
Generally, their whiskeys are bottled at around 43.3 % ABV. Angel’s Envy whiskeys are usually priced at the higher end of the market due to their premium quality and unique finishing process.
Typically, a bottle of Angel’s Envy whiskey can range between $50 and $200.
19. Jameson Irish Whiskey
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a popular Irish whiskey brand produced in Ireland. It’s a blended whiskey made from a blend of grain and single-pot still whiskey, which gives it a unique flavor profile.
Jameson Irish Whiskey is known for its smooth and mellow flavor, characterized by notes of honey, vanilla, and toasted wood. It has a relatively low ABV of 40%, which makes it a great choice for sipping on its own or mixing into cocktails.
Jameson Irish Whiskey is very affordable, with prices typically ranging from around $20 to $40, depending on the specific expression and the market where it’s being sold.
Their premium and rare blends can have a higher price than their traditional offerings. Overall, it’s great for those looking for high-quality Irish whiskey at a good price.
20. Old Forester
Old Forester is a bourbon whiskey brand produced in Kentucky. Its rich and full-bodied flavor profile is characterized by notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak, with a hint of spice.
Old Forester is bottled at a relatively high ABV of 40%-60%, depending on the specific expression. This higher ABV gives the whiskey a more robust and complex flavor profile and a bit of a kick.
Old Forester whiskeys are generally priced in the mid-range of the market, making them an affordable option for those looking for high-quality bourbon whiskey.
Prices can vary depending on the specific expression and the market where it’s being sold. Generally, a bottle of Old Forester bourbon whiskey can range between $20 and $50.
Some premium and rare blends may be priced higher than their standard offerings.
What’s Your Pick?
Whiskey is a beloved alcoholic beverage in the US. Depending on personal taste, one might prefer a mellow and sweet bourbon, a bold and spicy rye, or an Irish whiskey with a smooth finish.
The popularity of individual brands and styles may fluctuate from year to year. However, whiskey remains a staple of American drinking culture. What’s your pick? Let’s chat about whiskey below!
