The 50 Best Bourbons We Tasted in 2024, Ranked

We had the pleasure of tasting a bevy of bourbons in 2024, ranging from incredible to great to good to so-so to terrible. We’ve rounded up the 50 best bourbons of the year and ranked them. What makes our rankings special, you may ask? The Bottle Raiders ethos is one of community and collaboration. We use our proprietary Raided Score® to rank spirits based on not only the opinions of our critics but those of other notable critics across the internet, too. We believe this is incredibly important, considering the subjective nature of taste.

This approach makes our rankings as complete, holistic and fair as possible.

Methodology: For this list, only bourbons released in 2024 or during the latter portion of 2023 (but that we tasted in 2024) are considered.

Our rankings are sorted, first and foremost, by our house scores, ranked from low to high. As we use a scale of 1-10 for our house scores, there were many ties. We broke these ties by considering each bottle’s Raided Score®. The Raided Score® is a score on a scale of 50-100 that is assigned to each bottle by averaging the scores given from critics across the internet, using a proprietary formula developed by Bottle Raiders. 

TL;DR: Bottles are ranked by what we thought first and foremost, and ties were broken by what other critics think. In situations where both of those scores were even, we broke the tie by the highest number of aggregated scores. This is because we believe a Raided Score® of, say, 92 based on one or two reviews isn’t nearly as impressive as a 92 based on seven reviews. If all of those factors still result in a tie, we simply list the tied bottles alphabetically.

Private barrel picks were not considered.

Let’s get into the list!

The 50 Best Bourbons of 2024, Ranked

50. Penelope Rio Batch 24-901 (2024)

Penelope tamed the contentious Amburana beast with a sweet dose of honey. Learn more.

49. Heaven’s Door Exploration Series 1

Bob Dylan’s whiskey brand showed its stuff with this lovely bourbon finished in sweet calvados casks. Learn more or buy it now.

48. O.H. Ingram River Aged Flagship Bourbon 2024

O.H. Ingram is known for maturing its whiskeys in a barge rickhouse that floats on the Mississippi River. Learn more or buy it now.

47. Blue Run Flight Series II Yosemite Pine

A dessert-forward bourbon from the up-and-coming Molson Coors-owned brand. Learn more or buy it now.

46. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series #12 Straight Tennessee Whiskey Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

That’s right, we considered Tennessee whiskey bourbon for the purpose of this list. Because let’s not split hairs, it’s bourbon. Learn more.

45. Green River Full Proof Bourbon

One of those “new but actually super old” brands, Green River was originally founded in 1885 but revived in 2020. Since then, it’s been putting out killer whiskeys at great prices, like this one. Learn more or buy it now.

44. George Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years

A good whiskey. There are better ways to spend $500, though. Learn more or buy it now.

43. Blood Oath Pact No. 10

This high-rye bourbon was finished in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks — a red wine and bourbon lover’s dream (or dram, rather?) come true. Learn more or buy it now.

42. Old Forester 1924

At 10 years, this is the oldest release yet in Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series. Also, the mashbill may surprise OFo diehards. Learn more or buy it now.

41. Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition Bourbon

This blend of 7- and 17-year-old bourbons is finished in French brandy and cognac casks. Learn more or buy it now.

40. Old Grand Dad 16 Year Old

Much anticipated and quietly rolled out, does this extra-aged Beam product live up to the hype? Learn more or buy it now.

39. New Riff 8 Year Old Bourbon

New Riff’s oldest bourbon yet is an absolute treat for anybody who likes an oak-forward pour. Learn more or buy it now.

38. Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon 2024

Michter’s shows yet again why it’s the king of toasted whiskeys. Learn more.

37. William Larue Weller Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

The first member of the lauded Buffalo Trace Antique Collection to crack this list. No, it won’t be the last. Learn more.

36. 15 STARS Platinum Bourbon

15 STARS is a young non-distilling producer that’s quickly rising the American whiskey ranks. This blend of 10-, 15- and 18-year-old bourbons is a dynamite bottle. Learn more or buy it now.

35. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII

A pleasant blend of 10- to 17-year-old bourbons released to celebrate the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Learn more or buy it now.

34. Barrell Bourbon New Year 2024

Name an American non-distilling producer that’s doing it like Barrell Craft Spirits. We dare you. Learn more or buy it now.

33. Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old Batch 2

Good ol’ Jack has shifted strategy in recent years, beginning to release some astounding, cool whiskey in addition to the usual mid-to-low-shelf suspects. We’re very grateful for that, and this 12-year-old whiskey is the oldest Jack release in modern history. Although, we hear a 14-year-old is in the works. Learn more or buy it now.

32. 2XO Whiskey The Kiawah Blend

2XO (which stands for two times the oak, because the brand double-oaks all of its whiskeys) is an exciting young brand founded by Dixon Dedman, the blender who revived Kentucky Owl and sold it to Stoli. Learn more or buy it now.

31. Booker’s The Reserves 2024

Booker’s Bourbon “The Reserves” is a new series honoring Booker Noe, the grandfather of Freddie Noe, eighth-generation master distiller at Beam. Learn more or buy it now.

30. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2024 Camp Nelson B

This bourbon was aged on the sixth floor of Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson Rickhouse B, and the increased elevation and greater sun exposure yielded a bourbon that clocks in at 120.2 proof, the highest-proof whiskey to ever release from the Russell’s Reserve label. Learn more or buy it now.

29. Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Aged 8 Years

This expression was released to mark Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th year with Wild Turkey. It’s quite a feat, and this is quite a bourbon. Learn more or buy it now.

28. Middle West Spirits Cask Strength Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Michelone Reserve Batch 001

Columbus, Ohio’s Middle West is one of America’s most underrated indie distilleries, and its new Cask Strength Series is a delight. Learn more or buy it now.

27. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon 2024

2024’s batch of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength introduced a new spin by introducing a Tawny port finish alongside the usual Ruby port. Learn more.

26. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C924

A wonderful whiskey from a wonderful series. Heaven Hill rarely disappoints. Learn more.

25. Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #12

Bardstown Bourbon Company consistently captivates drinkers with bold, flavorful blends. Learn more.

24. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Private Stock Aged 8 & 15 Years

The second entry from 15 STARS on this list, this one was released in March and is a true oaky Kentucky bourbon lover’s bourbon all the way through. Learn more or buy it now.

23. Booker’s 2024-02 ‘The Beam House Batch’

Released in July 2024, this edition of Booker’s Bourbon is named “The Beam House Batch” for the Noe family home in Bardstown, Kentucky. Learn more or buy it now.

22. Holladay Ancient Cave Collection Hybrid Oak

This sleeper Missouri distillery was founded in 1856 and has begun blowing up in a major way over the past year or two. Learn more.

21. Blackwood Toasted Bourbon

Blackwood is an up-and-coming non-distilling producer that’s quickly proving its bottles are worth their premium prices. Learn more or buy it now.

20. Seelbach’s 9 Year Old Private Reserve Batch 006 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The sixth release in the Private Reserve Series from the retailer, Seelbach’s, only 608 bottles of this 9-year, 5-month-old bourbon were produced. Learn more.

19. Milam & Greene Castle Hill Series Batch 3 Bourbon

Master Blender Heather Greene’s prowess was on display with this 15-year-old Tennessee bourbon. Learn more.

18. Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C924

Larceny’s final barrel-proof release of 2024 was its best. Learn more.

17. Little Book The Infinite

Little Book The Infinite pays homage to the legacies of Freddie Noe and his forefathers. This bourbon is crafted from whiskeys distilled by three generations of Noe family master distillers. The components in the blend are aged between seven and 20 years. Learn more or buy it now.

16. Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2024)

Bomberger’s Declaration is an unheralded release from Michter’s, which has as much of an argument as anyone else for being America’s best distillery. Bomberger’s Declaration is named for a former iteration of the Michter’s Distillery, which was called Bomberger’s Distillery. Learn more.

15. Larceny Barrel Proof B524

Another knockout release of Heaven Hill wheater. Learn more.

14. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A124

Heaven Hill’s dominant 2024 run continues with ECBP A124, aged 10 years and nine months and bottled just shy of 120 proof. Learn more.

13. Still Austin Bottled In Bond Red Corn Aged 5 Years

The Austin, Texas-based Still Austin Whiskey Co. will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and yet it’s already established itself as one of the premier must-watch craft distilleries on the American whiskey scene. Learn more or buy it now.

12. Baker’s 13 Years Old Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2024 Release)

A 13-year-old Beam product, this single-barrel bourbon returned this year to the delight of all who managed to get their hands on a bottle. Learn more.

11. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524

The best batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof in recent memory. Learn more.

10. Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection 2024

An infusion of Japanese oak makes this a masterpiece. Learn more or buy it now.

9. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon 2024

Maker’s has released two batches of Cellar Aged so far. While 2023’s debut was spectacular, the 2024 release might just have eclipsed it. Learn more.

8. Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon (2024 Release)

An exquisitely flavorful bourbon sure to be adored by aficionados and novices alike. Learn more.

7. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024

2024’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is a blend of bourbons ranging from 12 to 20 years of age. Learn more.

6. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release 2024 — Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8

On to the top five… Again, yes, Tennessee whiskey qualifies as bourbon. And this bourbon is special. Learn more.

5. George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

This year’s George T. Stagg release is a touch hotter than recent years, but damn is it good. Learn more.

4. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old Bourbon (2024)

This has been the “best bourbon of 2024” pick for many. Not quite for us, but it’s very close. Learn more or buy it now.

3. Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

(In our opinion) the best bottle in the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Learn more.

2. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2024 18 Year Old

This bottle has everything you could ask for from an extra-aged, high-proof bourbon. Learn more.

1. Brown-Forman King Of Kentucky 2024 Bourbon

The King of Kentucky was also 2024’s king of bourbon. Excellent work, Brown-Forman. Learn more.