The Best American Whiskey Brands, Ranked

America’s whiskey tradition is a strong one. George Washington himself presided not just over the nation but the production of 12,000 gallons of whiskey a year, according to Mount Vernon’s library. But, what are the best American whiskeys? Who can say? Well, we can, and it’s these ones. 

Before we dive in, a few notes: First, we’re ranking bourbon brands overall here, not individual labels or releases, so, don’t expect to see two different versions of Four Roses go head-to-head. That also means some of these whiskeys come from the same producers and many are made at the same distilleries. For that reason, the value is a factor as well — an underpriced B+ whiskey is a better deal than an overpriced A- option.

We also considered accessibility as a factor. Procuring a great bourbon with limited distribution can be as much of an expenditure in terms of time spent as the cost of buying a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle, so these are the whiskeys you’re likely to find in large swaths of the United States. Next, we excluded anything flavored, in order to let the whiskey stand alone. Though, if you need a recommendation, Howler Head’s banana bourbon is astonishingly satisfying. And finally, don’t agonize over which one to buy too much. If a drink is on this list, it’s already certain to satisfy. With those disclaimers in place, let’s take a shot at sorting out America’s best bottles of whiskey.