🎄 Happy Holidays from the Tortured Bourbon Crew 🎄
A No-Nonsense Bourbon Gift Guide by Price Point
Happy Holidays from the TB Crew 🥃
I put together this guide to help you find a solid bourbon no matter your budget—whether you’re hunting a reliable daily drinker or a special-occasion pour that actually delivers.
Every bottle listed below earns a Tortured Bourbon rating of That Dog Will Hunt or higher.
No drain pours. No hype bottles that don’t back it up. Just whiskey that belongs on your shelf.
🥃 The $20ish Range —
The Budget Kings
Great value pours that punch well above their weight.
Benchmark Full Proof (125 Proof)
The Scoop:
A high-octane flavor bomb from Buffalo Trace. Same mash bill as bottles costing five times as much, but cranked to 125 proof.
Flavor Profile:
Deep brown sugar and chocolate on the nose, followed by bold caramel and baking spice.
Best For:
Cocktails that need backbone or sipping over a large ice cube.
Benchmark Single Barrel (95 Proof)
The Scoop:
The refined sibling in the Benchmark lineup—less heat, more polish.
Flavor Profile:
Toasted oak, dried cherries, and vanilla with surprising complexity for the price.
Best For:
A daily neat sipper that won’t break the bank.
🥃 The $30ish Range —
The Bartender’s Best Friends
Reliable, versatile bottles every home bar should have.
Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve (100 Proof)
The Scoop:
From Brown-Forman, aged in “chiseled” barrels that increase wood contact.
Flavor Profile:
Rich and oily with caramel apple, toasted oak, and the classic Brown-Forman banana note.
Buffalo Trace
The Scoop:
The flagship low-rye bourbon that needs no introduction.
Flavor Profile:
Vanilla, molasses, and mint—balanced and endlessly approachable.
Early Times Bottled-in-Bond
The Scoop:
Usually sold in a liter and loved for a reason—arguably the best value in bourbon.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet corn, caramel, and a savory, oily mouthfeel.
🥃 The $40ish Range —
The Sweet Spot
Where quality takes a noticeable leap.
Four Roses Single Barrel
The Scoop:
A consistently excellent high-rye bourbon with a signature spice profile.
Flavor Profile:
Ripe plum, cherries, floral notes, and assertive rye spice.
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year
The Scoop:
A Wild Turkey classic selected by Jimmy and Eddie Russell.
Flavor Profile:
Vanilla, toffee, old leather, and that unmistakable Turkey funk.
Eagle Rare 10 Year
The Scoop:
Buffalo Trace aged a full decade—hard to find, unbeatable at retail.
Flavor Profile:
Oak-forward with orange peel, honey, and dry leather.
Conviction Single Barrel
The Scoop:
A high-corn bourbon from Southern Grace Distillery, aged in a former prison.
Flavor Profile:
Butterscotch, honey, and a touch of clove—sweet and approachable.
🥃 The $50ish Range —
The Enthusiast’s Choice
More proof, more character, more depth.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed
The Scoop:
A barrel-proof blend of 6, 8, and 12-year-old bourbons.
Flavor Profile:
Pepper, sweet tobacco, citrus—shockingly smooth for ~116 proof.
Old Forester 1910
The Scoop:
Finished in a second heavily charred barrel—this is dessert whiskey.
Flavor Profile:
Chocolate, marshmallow, graham cracker, and campfire smoke.
🥃 The $60ish Range —
The Heavy Hitters
High proof, age, or exceptional store picks.
Knob Creek 12 Year / Store Picks
The Scoop:
The 12-year is oak-forward and mature; store picks often bring higher proof.
Flavor Profile:
Dark caramel, roasted peanuts, and old oak tannins.
Old Forester 1920
The Scoop:
A Prohibition-style powerhouse at 115 proof.
Flavor Profile:
Dark cherry, cocoa, cedar, and a long warming finish.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
The Scoop:
A more approachable double-oak option than 1910.
Flavor Profile:
Maple syrup, hazelnut, and sweet cream.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof
The Scoop:
Forget Old No. 7—this is JD at full strength and world-class.
Flavor Profile:
Bananas Foster, brown sugar, and cinnamon spice.
🥃 The $70ish Range —
The Complex Sippers
Nuanced bottles that reward slow drinking.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
The Scoop:
Non-chill filtered, 110 proof, and dripping with character.
Flavor Profile:
Chewy toffee, vanilla, and classic Wild Turkey baking spice.
Willett Family Estate Rye (4 Year)
The Scoop:
A polarizing but brilliant rye with cult-level fans.
Flavor Profile:
Mint, tea, lemongrass, and baking spice—completely unique.
Oaklore 4-Grain
The Scoop:
A North Carolina four-grain bourbon balancing corn, rye, wheat, and malt.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet corn, spicy rye, soft wheat, dried fruit, and baking spice.
🥃 The $80ish Range —
The Barrel-Proof Standard
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
The Scoop:
Batch releases three times a year, age-stated and uncut.
Flavor Profile:
Oak, leather, dark caramel—thick, oily, and unforgettable.
🥃 The $100ish+ Range —
Top Shelf Territory
Limited releases and collector-level pours.
Oaklore Storyteller Series
The Scoop:
Small-batch, limited releases with unique cask finishes.
Flavor Profile:
Varies by release—expect dark fruit layered over a strong bourbon base.
Old Forester 1924
The Scoop:
A 10-year vintage release signaling a new era for Whiskey Row.
Flavor Profile:
Dried fruit, tobacco, cocoa powder—less heat, more elegance than 1920.
🥃 Final Pour
Whether you’re buying for friends, family, or yourself, this guide will keep you from ending up with a drain pour.
Cheers, y’all—and happy hunting. 🥃
— The Tortured Bourbon Crew