The 8 Best Whiskeys We Tasted In September 2023
Fall is here, marking the end of the dog days of summer. As the temperatures drop and the leaves change color, there’s nothing quite like a little bit of whiskey in your glass. September is Bourbon Heritage Month, after all.
We taste a veritable cornucopia of whiskeys each month from producers far and wide, and September was no exception. We’ve ranked the eight best whiskeys we tasted this month, featuring some incredible candidates.
The 8 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in September 2023
8. Barrell Rye Batch 004
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Barrel Craft Spirits is no stranger to making knockout rye expressions. The Barrel Craft Spirits Seagrass Grey Label scored a nearly unprecedented 10/10 on Whiskey Raiders and was the best rye whiskey we’ve ever tasted.
This latest batch from Barrel is what West refers to as a “mega rye” and clocks in at 57.85%. It is the fourth batch of rye whiskey in this series and is an impressive blend of 5-,6-, and 10-year-old Indiana whiskey; 5-year-old Tennessee rye whiskey; 6-year-old Kentucky rye whiskey; and 14-year-old Canadian rye whiskey.
The final mashbill is 89% rye, 7% corn and 4% malted barley.
With a spicy, herbal, ginger and dill-driven nose that’s a zingy shock to the senses, Barrell Rye Batch 004 is a “rye-lover’s rye,” according to West. The palate is heavy, but has plenty of brown sugar, pepper and orange peel with some oak to offer a bit of bite. The finish is intense and long, proving this rye is no shrinking violet — not in the least.
This monster rye can be purchased directly from Barrell Craft Spirits at the price of $84.99.
7. Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye
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Corbin Cash hails from Merced County in sunny California. This farm-to-bottle spirits operation uses base ingredients grown in the San Joaquin Valley. The farmland has been in possession of the Souza family for 100 years, and they are known for farming sweet potatoes, which make up the base of the distillate for the brand’s vodka.
Distilled from a mashbill of 100% Merced rye, Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye clocks in at 61.5% ABV. The whiskey is aged in charred American white oak barrels for up to six years.
Available from the distillery’s online shop for $100, the Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye is a monster rye that packs one heck of a punch. And by that, we mean it has plenty of bold, spicy, herbaceous rye characteristics. Whiskey Raiders Chief Spirits Critic Jay West described this whiskey as a “bruiser of a rye” in his review.
With loads of root beer and cola characteristics throughout the nose and palate, coupled with a tannic and bitter finish kissed with spearmint, this high-proof, spicy spirit is plenty fit for September sipping.
6. Baker’s 13 Year Old Limited Edition
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Baker’s is part of James B. Beam’s small batch collection and was named after Baker Beam, who worked his way from the ground up at the Jim Beam distillery. He started as a watchman and was quite close to his cousin Booker Noe. The Baker’s Bourbon line was created in celebration of Noe’s “favorite cousin,” according to the brand.
This latest release was part of the brand’s decision to resurrect a fan favorite, and if you have a bit of a sweet tooth, this is the bourbon for you. A 107-proof expression drawn from a single barrel, Baker’s 13 Year Old Limited Edition 2023 channels major peanut butter, toffee and fudgy goodness.
With an opulent peanut brittle-driven nose and luscious crème brûlée in the glass, this deliciously nougaty dram is a match made in heaven for those who prefer to drink their dessert. Reeses Cups fans may just have found the quintessential dream pairing with this latest release. Baker’s 13-Year-Old Limited Edition 2023 Release hosts an MSRP of $130.
If you’re interested in learning more about Baker’s 13 Year Old Limited Edition 2023, check out West’s first-taste review:
5. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2023
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Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a liquid celebration of the birthday of the brand’s founder, George Garvin Brown. The 2023 release honors the company’s 153rd anniversary. This bourbon is relatively on the lower-proof side, at 96, but features a high age statement of 12 years.
This rare expression is a cherry-coke bomb in the best possible way. West expressed appreciation for this year’s release in his review, citing a fragrant, cherry-laden nose with plenty of cola intermingled throughout. On the palate, this year’s Birthday Bourbon has less bitterness than former editions, and that cherry-cola-cocoa goodness really dominates. The spirit finishes nicely with notes of vanilla and cream that just seem to go on and on.
Without a doubt, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will be a tough bottle to find in the market. The MSRP for the 2023 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is $170 if you can get your hands on this party in a bottle, but if you weren’t one of the select few to earn the right to buy a bottle in the lottery — good luck.
4. Hardin’s Creek Boston
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This 17-year-old expression from the Hardin’s Creek Kentucky series was distilled at Beam’s facility in Boston, Kentucky. The spirit has the same mashbill and age as the other two members of this series, with the only differentiating factor being location: This was aged at Beam’s facility in Boston, Kentucky, while the other two were aged at Frankfort and Clermont.
Clocking in at a 55% ABV and possessing a suggested retail price of $170, this spirit lives up to the Hardins Creek name. With an oak-dominant nose coupled with nougat and buttercream, this richly complicated bourbon surprises on the palate with some berries, creamy frosting and freshly baked waffle cone. The finish continues all that bright berry goodness, and this bourbon ends on a sweet note.
This spirit hosts a suggested retail price of $170, but this series is a hit, so expect to pay a bit more due to rampant demand.
3. Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923
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Heaven Hill had multiple hits this month, and Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 was a definite standout. Wheated bourbon lovers will fall hard for this expression, which clocks in at an elevated 126.4 proof.
It is the final of three releases under the Larceny Barrel Proof program that launched in stores across the country and is what West describes as a “total banger.” The expression has a suggested retail price of $60.
The nose is maple syrup pancake dreams with cherry cola. On the palate, the maple throughline echoes throughout the spirit, coupled with clove and créme brûlée. Just a pop of ethanol adds a little bit of “oomph” to the spirit, but it doesn’t overpower.
The finish on this wheated bourbon beauty is long and channels major pot de creme decadence. West gave the Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C923 an 8/10 – which is nothing to sneeze at.
2. Parker’s Heritage Collection Double Barreled Blend Bourbon
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The Parker’s Heritage Collection from Heaven Hill is an ode to the distillery’s late master distiller, and it’s for a good cause, as Heaven Hill donates the proceeds from the annual releases to ALS. Each year is distinctive and selected from a series of bourbon, rye and wheat whiskeys. This year’s expression is a blended bourbon composed of 13- and 15-year-old whiskeys, bottled at a whopping 132.2 proof.
Parker’s Heritage Collection Double Barreled Blend Bourbon 2023 is a serious, darkly powerful and brooding bourbon, perfect for sipping as the weather gets a little cooler and the nights get a little longer. With a nose that is powered by rich, black cherries and oak, it’s clear this bourbon means business right away.
On the palate, expect heavy oak, black fruits, baking spice and just a kiss of balsamic vinegar for an added bite. The finish concludes with pipe tobacco, dusty cola and blackberry preserves. Dark, fruity, powerful and deliciously bold, this serious spirit has a suggested retail price of $175.
1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 13 Year Batch C923
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It was a great month for Heaven Hill, and this Elijah Craig offering simply blew us away.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 is the third and final expression in the series for 2023. This is the oldest ECBP expression to date, with an impressive age statement of 13 years and 7 months. This expression clocks in atypically high for the Elijah Craig series at 133 proof and has a suggested retail price of $75.
On the nose, expect plenty of sweetness coupled with bold caramel notes, burnt sugar, root beer and cherry cola. The palate is incredibly complex and the proof doesn’t interfere too much with the tasting notes of caramel, cherry cola and honey. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 finishes beautifully with just a hint of turtle candies.
West described Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 as “lovely, rich and layered.” This could quite possibly be the best iteration of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof yet. If you want to learn more about this expression, which received a very rare 9/10, you can watch the video capturing the first pour below.
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