The Most Underrated Bourbons Of 2022

There are undoubtedly tons of trends in the cocktail and alcohol space that come and go, but bourbon is that classic staple that will seemingly never go out of style. Bourbon is, at its core, the American version of whiskey that has been a reliable liquor on bar shelves since at least the 1800s (via American Whiskey Trail). According to Bourbon Country, the spirit stands out from general whiskey because of its mash bill — bourbon is almost always majorly comprised of corn, resulting in its sweet and smooth flavor. 

There are plenty of mainstream bourbon brands, like Knob Creek or Evan Williams, that likely look familiar even to someone who never usually touches brown liquor, let alone sips it straight up. As with most other categories of spirits on the market, there are also a few lesser-known bottles of bourbon worth trying out at least once. Whether it's a limited release or a bottle that generally isn't shown enough love, we've rounded up a few underrated bottles of bourbon to try before the end of 2022. There are options perfect for cocktails like a Hot Toddy or a Kentucky mule, but all are also great for sipping straight up and exploring the intricacies of every release. It's a good excuse to enjoy a drink in the name of expanding your palate, as every bourbon enthusiasts knows is very important. 

Grand Teton Distillery makes a lot of spirits that are very much worth shelling out the cash for, but their Private Stock Straight Bourbon is the only one to hold the title of the oldest whiskey from a distillery Idaho. The distillery ages its bourbon for 8 years in single barrels, so each bottle is complex and distinct in flavor. The mash bill also contains 21% rye, meaning there are flavors of bitter chocolate and light pepper present among the woody and vanilla notes. 

In general, this a bourbon that channels the flavors and experience of homemade campfire s'mores in the best way. It's up to you to decide whether or not that experience is worth the $80 price tag. "Flavorful and smooth. I'm glad I got a chance to taste it when my wife and I toured your distillery," one fan of the bottle wrote on Grand Teton's Facebook page. 

Samuel Maverick Whiskey is a proud institution of San Antonio, Texas, with the distillery having a prized location right by the historic Alamo building. The brand honors the practices of traditional American bourbon but with an added Texas twist with its latest release – Samuel Maverick Private Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It's a small-batch limited release that is an ode to the brand's namesake — it was made and distilled on the site of prominent Texas politician Samuel Maverick's original home from the 1800s. 

Maverick Distillery only used seven barrels of their 4-year-old reserve to make this particular bourbon, so it's a pretty exclusive sip (via BevNet). The 90-proof bottle sells for $75. The flavor features the warm and slightly sweet notes you'd expect from a bourbon, like caramel, chocolate, and vanilla, but with a twist that resembles smoky Texas barbecue. "It's amazing," one fan of the release wrote on Maverick Distilling's Facebook page. 

Legent Bourbon feels like a perfect marriage between Kentucky bourbon and Japanese whiskey, thanks to the collaboration between Fred Noe and Shinji Fukuyo. The standout aspect of Legent is that some of the bourbon in the blend is finished in red wine and sherry casks to develop a deep flavor of fruit and aged wood. It's all meticulously blended together, creating a bottle that is layered with flavors and perfectly balanced. It has slight peppery spice that meets rich flavors of dark chocolate covered cherries. 

This bourbon is fairly priced at just over $40 a bottle on Drizly as of October 2022, so it's an easy way to treat yourself to something new to expand your bourbon palate. "Fantastic flavours, great blending...only problem is that it is not a bourbon to mix with cola....only way to enjoy it is straight up," one Master of Malt user wrote in a review of Legent. 

Another sweet bourbon that is a bit lighter for those who are still exploring the intricacies of bourbon is I.W. Harper's 15-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The age adds plenty of depth to this 86-proof bourbon, but it isn't as boozy as some other options on the list, which gives it a lighter mouthfeel. It's got a good balance, is complex without being too overwhelming, and also shows how age can really transform a corn-heavy bourbon into something unique. 

Some reviews on Flaviar suggest that you definitely want to let this bourbon breathe a bit so it can really develop its best flavors. "This bourbon in particular is a new favorite, and makes drinking any of my other bourbons much more difficult. This stuff is buttery and fruity but not overwhelmingly so, loads of flavor, and the finish is long and outstanding with very little burn," one review reads. 

If bourbons that tend to be on the sweeter side aren't your thing, it may be worth it to explore bottles with mash bills that contain other grains, like wheat or rye, that add spicy and herbal elements to round out the flavor. One bottle that fits the bill is Pursuit United Bourbon, a 108-proof release made from a blend of bourbons that contain various levels of corn, rye, malted barley, and red winter wheat. The brand uses bourbon distilled in three different states — Kentucky, Tennessee, and New York — to truly make a release like no other. 

It's priced a bit higher at $65 a bottle, but it's one of those slow sippers worth taking the time to explore the various notes and flavors going on inside. "This is one of the best bourbons I've ever had! What an incredible blend, nicely done," one Binny's Beverage Depot customer wrote in a review of Pursuit United Bourbon. 

Breckenridge Bourbon not only stands out because it helms from Colorado, rather than Kentucky or Tennessee, but also because it is a peppery, high-rye spirit. This 86-proof bottle has a deep golden amber color and a rich brown sugar and honey flavor to match. Breckenridge Distillery ages its bourbon for a minimum of three years to develop those deep woody flavors that compliment other warm notes of vanilla and caramel.

Breckenridge Bourbon is a relatively budget-friendly bottle that sells for $45 on Drizly as of October 2022, and reviews from customers who have purchased it declare that it's an underrated gem that they would be willing to pay much more for. "This stuff ruined all my other bourbons. Absolutely the best," one customer review of Breckenridge Bourbon reads. And if you want to up the ante, the distillery also has a single barrel bourbon aged up to 10 years that's even more of a rollercoaster ride of deliciousness for your taste buds. 

Another unexpected knockout bourbon that doesn't call Kentucky home is Pipe Dream Bourbon from Redwood Empire Whiskey in Sonoma County, California. The first bourbon from the brand is named after the 14th tallest tree on Earth, called the Pipe Dream Tree in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The tree is a whopping 367 feet tall and more than 1,300 years old, and its age and earthy qualities are represented in its namesake bourbon. The corn-heavy spirit features a blend aged anywhere from four to 12 years. It has the slight sweetness you'd expect, but not as much as some of the other options on this list. 

Pipe Dream bourbon shows its age in a good way, thanks to its complexity, and the woody notes remind you of the brand's mission. For every bottle sold, Redwood Empire plants a tree, so you can actually feel like you're doing something good by treating yourself to this bourbon. It's also very reasonably priced at $40 a bottle on Total Wine. "I was pretty wowed with this one," one customer wrote in a review of the bottle, adding, "I would compare it favorably with Eagle Rare. Lots of flavor for 90-proof and the price point."