Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Made to the same formula since 1795, this giant of the category is aged for four years in oak barrels to create a smooth, mellow taste with hints of spice.

McAfee's Benchmark is a rye-recipe Kentucky straight bourbon from the Buffalo Trace distillery, awarded 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and a former Gold Medal and Trophy winner at the International Spirits Challenge.

The flagship brand produced by the Heaven Hill distillery in Kentucky. A solid 4 year old bourbon.

Somewhat obscure, but very good value sourmash Kentucky straight, first produced as far back as 1836.

Packaged in an old-style bottle, Bulleit bourbon has developed a loyal following in the decade or so since its arrival on UK shores. The high rye content (around 30%) gives this a spicy kick.

Very popular bourbon, aged a minimum of five years in oak barrels for extra smoothness and carefully blended for a consistently smooth, creamy flavour.

A rich sour-mash bourbon made by the Heaven Hill group of distilleries, this has a dry, medicinal style and will appeal to fans of traditional old-style bourbons.

Excellent value full-strength old-style sour-mash Kentucky straight made from choice grains and perfect limestone water.

A revamped Jim Beam Black, now with the title of 'triple-aged' which refers not to three different types of cask (as that would not be allowed under bourbon regulations) but to the 6 year old age statement, which is three times the minimum maturation period for bourbon.

An 81 proof (40.5%ABV) bourbon crafted by Wild Turkey associate distiller Eddie Russell, son of master distiller Jimmy. It's a high rye mash matured in heavily charred casks for big flavour at a more approachable ABV than the 101.

A four-year-old straight bourbon produced by Jim Beam at their distillery in Clermont, Kentucky.

Buffalo Trace is a really classy bourbon from the eponymous distillery that has been responsible for some truly outstanding products in recent years. A must-stock for any bar worthy of the name and probably the best all-rounder around twenty quid.

The extra aged version of Evan Williams's solid sipping whiskey, one of the biggest sellers in the USA beind the similar looking Old No. 7.

A solid bourbon produced by, strangely, the folks of the Florida Caribbean Distilling company.

Immortalised by Billy Idol in the '80s, Rebel Yell is a classic bourbon, deservedly famous for its quality as well as its rockstar associations.

A love-it-or-hate-it whiskey from Jim Beam, who have flavoured their bourbon with natural cherry flavour to make Red Stag.

A straight Bourbon 'Of Topmost Class' according to the label, which is also adorned with a drawing of the venerable-looking Col. Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr, one of Americas's most respected whiskey pioneers, who was involved with seven different distilleries during his career and is sometimes referred to as 'the father of the modern bourbon industry.

Aged for five years and charcoal filtered for smoothness and a delicious smoky aftertaste - this is a very popular but difficult-to-find Beam, great for bourbon cocktails.

First produced for use in gentleman's clubs, Old Fitzgerald is softer in flavour due to the use of wheat (rather than rye) as the secondary grain in the mash.

The fad for distilleries releasing their new make spirit continues, this time in the form of Buffalo Trace's 'White Dog', the affectionate name given to unaged whiskey. Competitively-priced and attractively packaged, we reckon that Buffalo Trace's extra style credentials could well see this becoming a hit cocktail ingredient.
Please note that this is a 37.5cl bottle