Bourbon is one of those enjoyable alcoholic beverages that can be intimidating to some people due to its complex mix of flavors. That’s why it is often taken on the rocks, not straight from the bottle to your glass. But if you want to ease into bourbons with the best taste possible, this article is for you.
The best sweet bourbons:
- Woodford Reserve Double Oak
- Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon,
- Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old
- Woodford Reserve
- Elijah Craig Small Batch
- Four Roses
The first three on the list are the best for experienced bourbon connoisseurs. The last three are great for beginners.
1. Woodford Reserve Double Oak
Many bourbon enthusiasts have nothing but good things to say about this bourbon. The tastes of marzipan, toffee, blackberry, and fresh honey are is what most people love about it.
Woodford Double Oak has all the sweet tastes of what is expected to be the taste of prime grade bourbon, and I assure you that your money is well-spent on this beauty.
2. Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon
The taste of vanilla leading to a kettle corn vibe with a hint of caramel makes this bourbon one of the best in terms of sweetness. It is not saccharine nor too woody, which is just right for those who want to experience the best bourbon drinking experience.
You can comfortably drink the Colonel on its own and enjoy the sweet journey towards bliss.
3. Jefferson’s Reserve Very Old
There’s that spice commonly associated with eggnog and nutmeg, with a hint of sweet honey. However, you can soon taste butter toffee, cinnamon, and vanilla, and it ends with a subtle tobacco kick, enough to provide you the best of both worlds — booze and sugar.
Related 10 Best Sweet Alcoholic Drinks For Taste Bud Bliss.
4. Woodford Reserve
Aside from being one of the best bourbons you can drink straight, Woodford Reserve is also perfect for bourbon beginners. You can enjoy the tastes of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, and oranges; all blended smoothly.
Woodford Reserve does not have any spicy blends to it, so beginners will not be shocked or turned off upon tasting it. There’s no need to have that unnecessary kick at the beginning of their journey. There’s plenty of time to develop a palate for that.
Related 15 Best Alcoholic Drinks for Beginners or Lightweights.
5. Elijah Craig Small Batch
This bourbon brand is also a good choice when it comes to beginners. It has that citrusy flavor and the right amount of bitter taste, setting the mood for beginners to start enjoying bourbon at its gentlest.
6. Four Roses
This brand boasts of its complexity, yet it is so smooth, making it perfect for beginners. Its honey notes make it a sweet addition to cocktails, but you can also drink it straight. This shows how versatile Four Roses are in its ability to be incorporated into many refreshing drinks.
Is Bourbon the Sweetest Whiskey?
Lastly, people are comparing bourbon to scotch whiskey in terms of its appearance, taste, and texture as it goes down our throats. Bourbon is not the sweetest to set the records straight, but it is definitely sweeter than scotch whiskey. Scotch whiskey leans on the smoky side of things, while bourbon is more inclined towards a sweeter palate. However, they have varying tasting profiles thanks to the grains used to make them.
Related 15 Best Alcoholic Drinks for Beginners or Lightweights.
Sweetest Bourbon to Drink Straight
This is, of course, a matter of opinion. However, here is mine.
The sweetest bourbon to drink straight is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It has a bold taste and will pleasantly attack your sweet taste buds in the best way possible.
Here are some great sweet bourbons to drink straight:
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
- Woodford Reserve Double Oak
- Old Forester 1910
- Eagle Rare
- Evan Williams Single Barrel
Smoothest Bourbon for Beginners
It might seem redundant, but my list for smoothest bourbons might seem familiar.
The smoothest bourbon for beginners is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It is so smooth that beginners can typically enjoy it without even making the slightest face. It is bold yet mild and sweet at the same time.
Here are the smoothest bourbons for beginners:
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
- Maker’s Mark
- Four Roses Small Batch
- Buffalo Trace
- Evan Williams Single Barrel
Takeaway
Contrary to popular belief, alcoholic beverages can have various tastes, aside from the usual “alcoholic” taste. For example, alcoholic drinks can taste sweet, sour, bitter, bland, and spicy, depending on the ingredients used in creating the drinks.
An eclectic variety of people can enjoy bourbons due to the wide variation in taste among the brands. There is a mix that matches anyone’s preferences. Bourbon can be intimidating, but there’s no doubt beginners can enjoy many types of bourbon right from the start.
I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
Anne has a professional canning business, has been featured in the local newspaper as well as on the Hershey website, and has been her family canner for decades. Anyone growing up in the South knows that there is always a person in the family who has knowledge of the “old ways,” and this is exactly what Anne is.
With over 55 years of experience in these endeavors, she brings a level of hands-on knowledge that is hard to surpass. Amazingly, she doesn’t need to reference many resources due to her vast wealth of experience. She IS the source.
Anne wants nothing more than to pass on her extensive knowledge to the next generations, whether that be family or anyone visiting her website, her YouTube channel, or preservingsweetness.com.