Spirited’s best new bourbons of 2024 list includes offerings from brands in Kentucky and beyond, as well as classic names like Weller along with distilleries just beginning to make their mark
Can bourbon keep getting better? It certainly seems like it. While country music took over music charts across the globe, America’s most famous whiskey style began popping up in bars from London to Tokyo. The best new bourbons of 2024 all offer what we’ve come to expect from the whiskey style, but added either a unique twist (like finishing in Mizunara barrels or multiple Port casks) or so perfectly nailed craft that it was impossible to deny their inclusion.
All in all, the 2024 crop of best new bourbons provide imbibers of every level the opportunity to get to know the direction of American whiskey, and gain insight into what might be rolling out in the coming years.
Anyways, without further ado, here’s our list of the best new bourbons of 2024…
William Larue Weller Bourbon (from the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)
The 2024 William Larue Weller barrels aged over twelve years on the lower floor of a rick warehouse at Buffalo Trace Distillery at a barrel entry proof of 114. The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered wheated recipe bourbon is hand-bottled at 125.8 proof. On the nose, the 2024 William Larue Weller offers a blend of new leather, light pipe tobacco, and caramel, alongside the warm sweetness of marshmallow and hints of ripe fruit. Rich caramel and toffee notes coat the palate, followed by a long finish filled with oak, caramel, and fruit.
“William Larue Weller Bourbon shines among the Collection this year with its caramel notes and long, creamy finish. It’s fitting that this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Sazerac Company’s acquisition of the Weller brand,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley.
Rabbit Hole 15-Year-Old Mizunara
The second release of Rabbit Hole Distillery’s Mizunara, a cask-strength, 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey finished in Japanese Mizunara Oak, may have been even better than the first. The nose delivers notes of nutmeg, allspice, walnut and leather, balanced by mint, honey, wood and orange. The palate finds tobacco and oak lingering as hints of custard, banana and cinnamon give way to floral notes. The finish features dark cherry and chocolate.
“For years, I’ve been fascinated by the terroir and traditions of fine whiskey making,” said Distillery Founder Kaveh Zamanian. “When I finally got my hands on a handful of elusive casks from a small family-owned cooperage in Japan, I knew I wanted to create something special to honor the mystique and beauty of Hokkaido’s oak trees.
“When crafting Mizunara, I chose barrels from my personal collection of Kentucky straight bourbon – each aged to perfection for 15 years – and finished them in casks made of the finest Japanese Mizunara Oak for more than 11 months.
“This special edition whiskey exemplifies the innovation and creativity that goes into each of our Founder’s Collection releases, and we’re proud to share this masterpiece with collectors who favor one-of-a-kind whiskeys.”
Milam & Greene Bond in Bond Bourbon
This 2024 inaugural bottling of Milam & Greene Bottled in Bond Bourbon was distilled by the team in Kentucky, in Autumn 2019, and rested in char-4 oak barrels in a U.S. bonded warehouse. In the spring of 2024, 72 barrels were selected and brought to Blanco, Texas for batching and hand-bottling at 100 Proof.
On the nose, the whiskey offers aromas of candy corn, honey, and chocolate malt pop.. The palate bursts with flavors of fresh bread, malted milk balls, wildflower honey, and a touch of tannic oak. A smooth finish with lingering grain, spearmint, and cinnamon flavors round out the profile.
Angel’s Envy 2024 Cask Strength
The 2024 edition of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon finds the Kentucky whiskey maker changing up its maturation method for the first time as it used two different types of port casks for aging. On the nose, the Bourbon offers aromas of brown sugar and butterscotch leading to notes of stone fruit, pear, and spice. The palate delivers crisp apple crumble with buttery pie crust, and darker notes of chocolate, oak, and cinnamon honey. Martin used a solera method when blending, a first for Angel’s Envy.
“I’m excited to continue evolving what fans can expect from the Angel’s Envy Cask Strength program in new yet familiar ways,” said master distiller Owen Martin. “This year’s Cask Strength Bourbon not only honors the familiar flavors our fans love but also adds another layer of complexity with the tawny finish. It’s a great example of our vision for innovation, staying true to our roots while striving to provide a fresh perspective on our cherished whiskeys and American whiskey overall.”
Maker’s Mark Limestone Cellar Aged 2024
A blend of 15% Maker’s Mark 12-year-old and 85% Maker’s Mark 13-year-old, Dr. Blake Layfield, Head of Innovation and Blending at Maker’s Mark, believes the limestone shelf surrounding the cellar is what imparts such a complexity in the Limestone Cellar Aged 2024 whiskey: “Delivering an elevated expression that’s distinctly Maker’s Mark, Cellar Aged finishes maturation in our LEED-certified cellar, built into the limestone shelf that surrounds us, creating a richer, deeper and more complex bourbon, free from the harsher tannic effects commonly found in older American whiskies.”
The whiskey delivers aromas of zesty citrus, toasted almonds, and caramelized sugar, complementing a palate of bright spices, rich coconut, and buttery shortbread until it settles towards a finish of subtle oak and dark fruits.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2024 Edition
The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2024 edition features a nose of butterscotch and toasted oak along with floral notes of dried roses. The palate offers subtle hints of honey, herbs and green tea. The finish is rich and herbal with notes of cardamom and nutmeg followed by flashes of white pepper and oak char.
“Heaven Hill’s stewardship of the Old Fitzgerald brand over the past quarter century has honored the legacy of John E. Fitzgerald,” said Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll. “The Spring release showcases the premium quality and craftsmanship of Old Fitzgerald which has been cherished by fans, not just for decades, but for generations.”
Orphan Barrel Indigo’s Hour
Distilled in Indiana, aged in Kentucky and bottled in Tennessee, Orphan Barrel Indigo’s Hour draws inspiration from “nature’s most enchanting transitions.” It’s crafted from a mashbill of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malt and aged over 18 years in charred white oak barrels. On the nose, notes of creamy vanilla arrive alongside aromas of toasted oak, baking spices and red fruit. The palate finds caramel, honey, rich vanilla, and spice, leading to a smooth finish that’s highlighted by a touch of oak.
“Indigo’s Hour is perfect for those who appreciate the complex flavors and craft behind American-bourbon making,” said Diageo Master Blender Andrew Mackay. “Its liquid and bottle label symbolizes how the Orphan Barrel collection continues to evolve from its predecessors, making it a true collectible for those who appreciate fine spirits and rare whiskies.”
Lux Row Blood Oath Pact 10
Blood Oath Pact 10 combines various rare bourbons, including two well-bred rye bourbons and one finished. In honor of the double-digit milestone, he achieved a double finish for this year’s secret blend. The first finish, in Cabernet Franc barrels, imbues rich flavors of tart raspberries and black pepper. The second finish, in Merlot barrels, instills tastes of red stone fruits with undertones of vanilla, cocoa, and anise.
“We wanted to create something truly distinctive and unique to mark our 10th edition of Blood Oath and we did just that,” said Master Blender John Rempe. “For this offering I sourced three extraordinary bourbons that could be elevated even further through a double finish in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks, and would ultimately deliver the kind of rich, fruit-forward notes and smooth drinking experience I wanted to achieve. It’s a superb blend and I’m excited to share it.”
Tom’s Foolery Ohio Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old Single Cask
Lost Lantern’s Fall 2024 Collection was made up of four 10-year-old single cask whiskeys from California, New York, Ohio, and Washington. The seasonal series focuses on independent whiskey producers from across the U.S., and the standout was probably the Tom’s Foolery Ohio Straight Bourbon 10 Years Old Single Cask.
This family-owned distillery in Chagrin Falls, OH uses traditional, labor-intensive methods, including wooden fermenters and pot still distillation. This straight bourbon whiskey was aged for 10 years in a 53-gallon barrel, and was made from 63% corn from their family farm, 10% winter rye, and 27% malted barley. A reflection of the Ohio snowbelt, it offers aromas of maple-drizzled cornbread, french vanilla, and warming oak spice on the nose, with hints of maple, chocolate, and fresh-cut hay on the palate.
Buffalo Trace Distillery Introduces Eagle Rare 25 Bourbon
While technically launched in November 2023, our 2023 list had already been launched at that point, so we’re including Eagle Rare 25 here. It’s also basically unfair to put a $10k whiskey on any annual list (and you won’t be finding it for that little anymore), but after trying the tiny bit we still had stashed away from the sample we received last winter, we felt it appropriate (if not necessary) to bring back to everyone’s attention.
At 25 years old, the whiskey defies existing perceptions of ultra-aged bourbon with its smooth, complex flavor profile. On the nose, Eagle Rare 25 boasts notes of intense cherry, oak, dark chocolate, and an icing drizzle. The palate balances vanilla, dark fruit, and butterscotch, followed by an extremely long finish with lingering notes of rickhouse floor, baking spice, and black pepper.
