From prohibition to Hollywood to the Deep South: discover Bourbon’s starring role in the making of America

The story of Bourbon strikes right to the heart of America. Through prohibition, constant foreign whisky competition and more than one economic collapse, it has prevailed, delivering a slice of history to this diverse nation that speaks of pride, personality and family endeavor. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US but Kentucky is considered by many to be its birthplace. While its origins may be linked to the waves of immigration from Scotland and Ireland, today this is a distinctly American whiskey that has been shaped by its own journey. Unlike its European counterparts, Bourbon must be distilled in new charred oak barrels. It must use a grain mix that has, at a minimum, 51% corn and be bottled at between 80 and125 proof (40% – 62.5% ABV), among other requirements. For collectors, it comes heavy with value and is a great addition to a growing collection.

Here are three great Bourbons that we think you’ll enjoy collecting.

EH Taylor Bourbon Single Barrel €130.00

Every bottle of EH Taylor Bourbon Single Barrel is a direct link back to the past. Its namesake, EH Taylor, bought the distillery where it’s made in 1870, naming it the Old Fire Copper Distillery while also fighting for legislative change to protect Bourbon. In achieving this he came to own the title of Father of the Modern Bourbon Industry.

The distillery has changed hands a number of times since but it remains the oldest continuously working distillery in America. The current owners, Sazerac, another family-owned company, launched this popular single barrel bourbon to mark Taylor’s legacy. They mature it within the century-old warehouse that he built, closing the circle on this man’s great story.

Distilled at 100 proof (50% ABV) you can expect figs and butterscotch on the nose and a sweetness with a hint of tobacco and dark spices on the taste with a relatively short finish. A Bourbon collection isn’t really complete without a bottle from the EH Taylor range and this single barrel release is a great stablemate.

Woodford Reserve Decanter 2020  €1,800.00

It’s easy to be dazzled by the packaging of this elegant Cognac-finished Kentucky Bourbon. It’s handmade by Baccarat after all, one of the finest luxury crystal makers in the world and Woodford Reserve are already well known for their appreciation of great bottle design.

The bourbon itself is the prize though: using XO Cognac barrels, the team at Woodford matured their bourbon for an additional three years, conjuring a whole new layer of fruit, coffee and subtle spice to this already hugely popular spirit. The American and French oak of the two cask types combined to create a creamy, vanilla and dark chocolate flavour, with malt and oak notes.

Woodford wanted to create a product that represented the ultimate expression of American Whiskey with this Finished Bourbon. The combination of standout American bourbon, some of the finest XO Cognac casks and all housed within a French crystal decanter was irresistible. It’s a limited edition bottling that easily caught the eye of collectors when it launched in 2020.

Carrying the logos of Woodford Reserve and Baccarat, it’s a showstopper whiskey that, while international in its outlook, comes straight from the heart of this Kentucky Distillery and will be a standout bottle in any collection.

Pappy Van Winkle 15 YO 2016 €2,400.00

This is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which means it conforms to all the guidelines of Bourbon as well as being aged for a minimum of two years and less than four (making it straight) and also having spent at least a year in Kentucky (making it Kentucky Straight). In this case it’s a lot more than that as the Pappy Van Winkle 15 Family Reserve is drawn from deep within the maturation warehouse at its parent distillery, Buffalo Trace. It’s been comfortably aging in deep-charred heavy oak there for 15 years.

Bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV), this is a terrific throwback to the brand’s origins in pre-prohibition times. The Stitzel Distillery, which originally distilled the brand, was licensed to distil medicinal whiskey throughout prohibition and the Van Winkle name managed to survive all kinds of economic and cultural shocks since.

Pappy Van Winkle has a cult following around the world today and is produced in below-demand numbers, making sourcing a bottle always difficult. Fans celebrate its aromas of tropical fruits, cocoa and spiced peaches with layers or honey, oak and tobacco on the taste and finish.

As whiskey makers love to confuse us, the same distillery also produces Old Rip Van Winkle and Van Winkle Kentucky Straight Bourbon in the range but the Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, with the previous owner’s face on the label, is the one that collectors chase the most.

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