In the past, those who were ready to spend thousands of dollars on a single bottle of alcohol were drawn to scotch whiskey. Here is a selection of the “10 most expensive bourbon” available, with the exception of very rare and historic bottles that have been auctioned.
Although high-end whiskey is still widely available, bourbon whiskey has a well-deserved reputation as the drink of the common man. Bourbon collectors over the past ten years have driven prices into the stratosphere, regardless of factors like rarity, provenance, age, or even a storm destroying a distillery (tornado-surviving bourbon).
10 Most Expensive Bourbon For Bourbon Enthusiasts
According to The Manuel, the most fundamental need for whiskey to be regarded as bourbon is that it must be manufactured in America.
A mash, or mixture of fermented grains, must include at least 51% corn to be considered bourbon. This spirit must be matured in American oak barrels and must not be more than 125% alcohol when it first goes into the barrel.
Before bottling, only water may be added, and the finished product must be at least 40 proof. Bourbon’s precise ancestry is unknown, however, it may be traced to Kentucky in the 18th century.
Bourbon is a completely American creation in a world where whiskey comes in a wide range of styles, distillation techniques, regional influences, and practices.
Although there are numerous high-quality bourbons that cost less than an average price of $50, the most coveted ones are small production bourbons that have been carefully matured in tiny numbers.
We’ve grouped a collection of the best and most expensive bourbon in the market, with an average price of $33,438.
Here is a list of the world’s most expensive bourbon available right now; to buy some of these, you might need a loan from a bank.
1. Old Rip Van Winkle
What Makes It Special?
This is the golden standard, the bourbon synonymous with the Van Winkle brand. According to Whiskey Advocate, this is the oldest Old Rip Van Winkle whiskey (25 years old) that has ever been made available among the expensive bourbons.
Only 11 barrels of this 25-year-old bourbon were poured in 1989 at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery from the Old Rip Van Winkle distillery. They were relocated to and stored in Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2002. It is from the Pappy Van Winkle family reserve.
Only 710 hand-cut glass decanters, each packed in a hand-crafted wood box wielding swords from the initial containers the bourbon rested inside of for 2.5 decades, were released out of the 11 barrels filled.
Additionally, a certificate of authenticity signed by “Pappy” Van Winkle’s grandson is included with each bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year-Old whiskey.
The recommended retail price for a bottle was $1,800 at the time of its original launch in 2017. They naturally flew off the shelves, and many had to be booked in advance.
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Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year-Old Bourbon now costs a stunning $65,000 per bottle from Pappy Van Winkle, placing it among the list of the most expensive bourbon ever.
2. Michter’s 25-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
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What Makes It Special?
Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon is kept in white American charred oak barrels, much like all other expensive bourbons. But before making these containers, the wood is cured for three or more years.
This makes for a more thick taste profile by allowing the wood’s inherent qualities to develop further than during usual dehydration durations. It has a taste of dark fruit.
Michter’s bourbon enters its barrel at 103 proof, notwithstanding the established standards for expensive bourbons to be at least 125.
Since it permits the charred wood flavor to disperse more often and uniformly throughout the whiskey, this lower initial level was once thought to be the golden standard.
Additionally, Michter employs the uncommon technique known as “heat cycling,” which involves periodically changing the temperature of the aging warehouse.
This enables the bourbon to constrict, penetrate the wood within the barrel deeper, and acquire more flavor. The lower initial confirmation and expensive heat cycling result in fewer bottles produced per barrel.
It is among the most expensive bottle of bourbon and is widely loved by many bourbon enthusiasts/ bourbon fans.
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A bottle of Michter’s 25-Year-Old single barrel hand-bottled bourbon presently costs more than an average price of $23,000 because of the decreased availability.
3. The Last Drop Buffalo Trace Distillery Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Image by Justin Edge Creative from Pixabay
What Makes It Special?
Tom Jago and James Espy, two titans of the spirits business who set out to offer the most remarkable liquor in the world, launched The Last Drop Distillers in 2008.
The distillery’s second whiskey release is Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon from The Last Drop.
The Frankfort, Kentucky-based distillery, which was once known as the George T. Stagg Distillery, is still the world’s oldest continually running bourbon distillery even if the moniker “Buffalo Trace” is only a few decades old.
The Sazerac Company acquired the complete distillery in its then-existing form when the distillery was sold to them in 1992.
A few buffalo trace bourbon packets were located in the corners of one of the stores; The Last Drop was the lucky recipient of one of them.
The Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon, which was made in 1980, developed a deep and rich hue after 20 years of total undisturbed maturation in the barrel.
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The restricted outcome of such patient maturation is currently available for purchase for an average price of around $22,000.
4. Willett Distillery Family Estate 21 Year Old
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What Makes It Special?
On the Willett family property near Bardstown, Kentucky, the Willett Distillery was built in 1936. The Willett Distillery filled its 100,000th barrel in far less than 3 decades.
Ever since several bourbons have been bottled by the Willett Distillery in an effort to reach the highest level of excellence among other distilleries. It has a long history of producing expensive bottles of bourbon.
But the Willett Distillery Family Estate bottled single barrel 21 Bourbon stands out from the other alcohol produced by the distillery.
This bourbon, which was aged for 21 years before being bottled, perfectly captures all that Willett stands for.
A testimony to the arduous trip the Willett Distillery has traveled and is still traveling is the dedication and discipline needed to develop a whiskey that is so mature and of such high caliber.
The cover of the bottle features the Willet family crest that Edward Willett set on fire over 400 years ago in England after completing his pewter apprenticeship, serving as a lesson that the price tag is not just for the product itself.
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The price of one bottle of Willett Family Estate Bottled Single Barrel 21-Year Bottled Bourbon can reach an average price of $15,000.
5. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Image by Ernest Roy from Pixabay
What Makes It Special?
The popularity of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey may be attributed to the fact that it offers excellent value for the money.
The Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon distillery itself is now a national historic property. Like many great bourbons, it has a colorful background. It’s among the most expensive bourbon bottles.
More than 200 taste components, ranging “from powerful grain and oak, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit & floral notes,” make up this blend.
The fragrance is described as “Rich dried fruit, notes of mint, and citrus sprinkled with chocolate are all there in plenty. Spiced nicotine with sweet vanilla.”
It has the flavor of orange peel, a sweet sensation, which is sticky and balanced. There are lots of caramel, black raspberry, buttery, chocolate flavored, and spice overtones.”
Bourbon drinkers may anticipate an initial taste that is “nearly creamy” and smooth, followed by a “warm pleasing tail.”
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon is highly sought after as the world’s most expensive bourbon of all time. It is packed in a crystal decanter.
It’s advisable to sample a variety of bourbon whiskeys to determine which one you like, even though various bourbons will cause different people’s sense of taste to dance. It belongs to the most expensive bottles of bourbon.
6. A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16 Year Old
What Makes It Special?
Hirsch Reserve A.H. According to The Whiskey Wash, Straight Bourbon is among the ten most expensive bourbon ever and may also be the most legendary having a deep amber hue.
This bourbon was first produced in 1974 in the Pennsylvania distillery in Schaefferstown which would later become Mitcher’s Distillery.
The bourbon was created using a normal recipe consisting of 75% maize, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley for a 400 batch. After the distillery went out of business owing to insolvency, Gordon Hue bought the heavily matured bourbon and hired Julian Van Winkle III to bottle it as A.H. Hirsch Reserve.
This bourbon has been sold in several bottles, the first of which was a 16-year-old bottle with a Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, label that was initially distributed in 1991.
This bottle’s limited supply is the primary cause of its high cost. There is barely a little amount remaining from the batch created in 1974. It is among the most expensive bourbon of all time.
Although its 16-year maturing procedure results in a smooth spirit, the price tag is primarily because it won’t be there forever.
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Expect to spend at least an average price of $9,000 for a bottle if you want to reap the benefits of the restricted supply.
7. Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2019
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What Makes It Special?
Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash, fittingly dubbed Celebration, was launched just before of the festivities season for bourbon drinkers by the US’ first distilling company.
The Bourbon has a golden honeycomb appearance and tastes firm, and rough on the tongue. Collectors will find these Bourbon bottles to be quite remarkable.
A fantastic combination of the 30 y30-year years, and a few more great barrels that Master Distiller Willie Pratt hand-selected. The bottle’s 18 Karat gold lettering and the classy packaging make these the most expensive bottles which are ideal for holiday gifting. Enjoy!
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Limited quantities of only 277 bottles (at 57.8% ABV) of the $5,000 pure bourbon and rye combination were offered in 2019. It’s a dream for bourbon drinkers.
8. Double Eagle Rare 20-Year-Old Bourbon
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What Makes It Special?
Another bourbon from the renowned Buffalo Trace distillery is called Eagle Rare. In accordance with The Bourbon Explorer, this expensive bottle is the third in a trilogy from Buffalo Trace that bears the same moniker, with the first Double Eagle Very Rare coming out in 2019.
It takes this bourbon twice as much time to age as the regular Eagle Rare Bourbon—two decades. Every bottle of Double Eagle Very Rare is packaged in its slip display box after being poured into a custom-made glass.
Compared to its traditional counterpart, this Double Eagle Very Rare edition is unique.
It has a superior level of 101 as a tribute to Eagle Rare Bourbon’s initial proof from when it first started distilling in 1975.
Double Eagle Very Rare was only made available in 199 bottles, and its $2000 standard retail market price of introduction was already pricey. The price of the bottles has increased by more than ten times due to the demand.
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You’ll need to pay $23,000 for a bottle today.
9. John E. Fitzgerald 20 Year Old
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What Makes It Special?
Since its founding in 1935, the Heaven Hill Distillery has grown to become and remained a bourbon institution. Heaven Hill is now the biggest private barrel, family-owned bourbon distillery in the business.
John E. Fitzgerald drank from the best bourbons he could locate, and the barrels he chose came to be known as “Fitzgerald barrels,” the liquids of which were used to create an extremely soft, wheated bourbon known as “Old Fitzgerald.”
It’s among the most expensive bourbon ever and leaves an aftertaste of maple syrup.
This bourbon drink was initially created and matured in barrels by the Stitzel-Weller distillery in 1992. It was moved to Heaven Hill, where aging lasted until 2013.
It is one of the world’s most expensive bourbon.
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A bottle of John E. Fitzgerald Very Special Reserve now sells for $3,500, and its premium price tag is a result of its highly sought-after and uncommon 20-year maturity.
10. Parker’s Heritage Whiskey Collection
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What Makes It Special?
The Parker’s Heritage Collection bourbon barrels are burned for a whopping ninety seconds.
The top layer of the oak disintegrates and pulls apart as a result of this prolonged heat onslaught.
As a result, the bourbon may react with the caramelized and uncharred container layers more, creating an even more complex flavor of oaky Cabernet.
Despite the fact that Heaven Hill Distillery has already made 15 iterations of its Parker’s Heritage Collection, among the most expensive bourbons is still the best known.
Although the second edition has produced a bourbon drink that is so subtle that it will be difficult to taste the alcohol.
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A rare find of the Parker’s Heritage Collection is priced at $6,000 and has the awards of most expensive bourbon to prove it.
These were the most expensive bourbons of all time and maybe you’d get to sip on one of this someday. Cheers!
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
