Every year, we taste hundreds of bottles to build the guides we wish existed. From the best bourbons at every price to standout ryes and American single malts, these guides highlight the bottles we confidently recommend.
Whether you’re building your first shelf or searching for your next great pour, you’ll find our latest recommendations here.
Guides
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Best American Whiskey From $75-$100
The $75–$100 range is where bourbon starts to get serious. At this price, you are usually paying for more age, higher proof, smaller batches, barrel-strength releases, unique finishes, or something meant to feel a little more special.
Best American Whiskey From $50-$75
The $50–$75 range might be the sweet spot for American whiskey right now. This is where you start finding more age, higher proof, single barrels, limited releases, and bottles with enough personality to stand out.
Best American Whiskey From $25-$50
The $25–$50 range is where bourbon gets seriously competitive. These bottles are still affordable enough to keep on the shelf, but the added age, proof, and depth of flavor create much higher expectations. And there are a lot more options to choose from.
Best American Whiskey Under $25
Finding a great bourbon under $25 is easier than most people think. While limited releases and allocated bottles get most of the attention, some of the best values on the shelf are affordable, widely available, and consistently excellent.
Buy Again or Pass? We Had to Make Some Tough Calls
In this episode, we put 10 random bourbon and rye bottles through the only test that really matters: if we saw it on the shelf today, would we actually buy it again?
6 Whiskey Distilleries You Shouldn’t Ignore
Today we’re sharing six distilleries we think deserve a lot more attention. From Kentucky to Colorado to Louisiana, these producers are making some of the most interesting whiskey on the shelf.
Buy Again or Pass? Popular Bourbons Put to the Test
In this episode of Artfully Bourbon, we put some of the most popular bourbons on the shelf to the test to answer one simple question: buy again or pass?
We’re Saying Goodbye to These 8 Bourbons, Forever
In this episode of Artfully Bourbon, we’re saying goodbye to a handful of bourbons that just aren’t making the cut anymore. Whether it’s rising prices, shifting quality, or better bottles taking their place, we break down which bourbons we’re moving on from, and why.
10 Things We Learned After Starting a Bourbon YouTube Channel
In this episode we share 10 things we’ve learned since starting a bourbon channel, from why price doesn’t equal quality, to why proof isn’t everything, to how blind tastings can completely change your opinion.
Buy Again or Pass? Some of These Bourbons Shocked Us
In this episode of Buy Again or Pass, we revisit a lineup of bourbons and decide which ones actually deserve your money.
The Only 10 Bottles You Actually Need
If we had to start over and rebuild a whiskey shelf today, these are ten bottles we’d build around. Not all easy, not all cheap, but all worth understanding.
Buy Again or Pass? Which Bottles Actually Deserve Your Money
In this episode, we put our own bourbon collection to the test with a simple question: would we buy it again or pass?
The Whiskey That Actually Deserves Whiskey of the Year
After a full year of tasting, reviewing, and debating bottles across bourbon, rye, finished whiskey, and value categories, we crown the one whiskey that truly rose above the rest.
The Most Overrated Whiskies of 2025 (And What to Buy Instead)
We put a lot of whiskies to the test this year and a few of them didn’t hold up. We’ll show you why these bottles missed the mark and what you should buy instead. These are our most overrated whiskies of 2025.
10 Bourbons You Should Be Drinking (or Hunting) Right Now
We’ve poured a lot of bourbon since launching Artfully Bourbon, and today we’re revealing 10 whiskies you should be drinking, or hunting, right now. No unicorn hype, just the pours that live on our shelf and deserve a spot on yours.
The Best Whiskies You Should Be Drinking This Fall + Easy Cocktails
Looking for the best bourbons and cocktails to drink this fall? We’ve got three bottles we’re reaching for right now, two bourbons and a rye that bring all the flavor, spice, and warmth you want this season.
Ranking Kentucky Distilleries by Their Best Mid-Tier Bourbon
We’re back ranking Kentucky’s biggest distilleries—this time with their mid-tier bourbons.
Ranking Kentucky Distilleries by Their Best Budget Bourbon
We’re ranking Kentucky’s legendary distilleries by their BEST budget bourbon. We selected one affordable bottle that we believe represents the distillery at its finest, and then we ranked them head-to-head.