The TOP 10 BOURBONS of 2023

Here it is. A video one year in the making! These are our Top 10 Best Bourbons of 2023 that we scored and ranked blind! You can use the chapter markers to skip around if you like. What was your favorite Bourbon of 2023?
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Chapters:
0:00 Here We Go!
0:39 Our Methods
2:25 The Double Check
2:58 The Rules
4:05 A Disclaimer!
5:08 Honorable Mentions (no. 15 - 11)
6:15 Number 10
7:27 Number 9 (Best Finished Bourbon)
8:29 Number 8
9:29 Number 7
10:48 Number 6
11:53 Announcements, our new cocktail syrup now available!
12:30 Number 5
13:56 Number 4
15:28 Number 3
16:44 Number 2
18:35 Number 1 The Best Bourbon of 2023
20:28 What’s Coming Next
21:48 The Wrap Up
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE:
Any Amazon links used in this description will direct you to Amazon, and as an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
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All claims about alcohol, whether in this video, in this description, or on our channel, are intended only for those of the legal drinking age. All links provided here should only be accessed by those of the legal drinking age.
#WhiskeyTube #Bourbon #WhiskyTube

[@matthewbykowski2353]

Great video, I love that you include the "benchmarks". Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@KevinWilson-cc7lj]

Happy New Year's to you both. You both do an excellent job being our bourbon guides on this journey.

[@michaelhogan7866]

You guys are doing great. The blind score is the main thing, people get price and availability, but need to know what’s worth the hunt. Thanks for this.

[@WhiskeyForge]

Picked up this GTS in Houston for $299, can’t wait to try it.

[@boswineguy5461]

Great list, and good call-out on the Old Fitz being almost vintage-y. I think the Spring 2021 9yr sometimes comes off with the fermented fruit vintage bourbon note.

[@bri114]

My favorite this year was ECBP C923…A123 is my #3…Antique 107 is #2 (pour at a bar.) Granted, no GTS or any other harder to finds (or any others in your top 10) but I’m not complaining! Happy New Year!

[@dragngt]

I’m glad to see you kept the OG rankings list for those of us who want that. Looking forward to seeing how your other list turns out. 👍

[@mttech1995]

Good video as always!! I was very surprised that this years release of the 4 Roses 🌹 Limited didn’t make the list?? Cheers and Happy 2024!!

[@josephgaudette2983]

Happy New Year and another great video.

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for all the videos & I can't wait to see what 2024 brings to the channel 🥃

[@drinkthebottles]

Chad & Sara - We've been watching your videos for sometime and finally snuck into the comments. We love your content and love how you chose the Top 10. Keep up the GREAT work!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thanks so much! Don’t be a stranger in the comments! Hope to see ya around more.

[@72cmcinc]

Great episode and some damn good picks!

[@MattMorris10132]

I appreciate this list. One of the local bars always gets BTAC this time of year and this helps me determine which ones to try

[@TRIKushbeachside]

Glad to see some 4gates in there lol I was able to get #8-10 this year. Only bought 5-6 bottles and 3 of them ended up in the top 10 🙏🏾

[@jamessocal8946]

Great video, great list.

[@Slo-Mode]

I accept TN whiskey as bourbon but it's more specific so I always love the clarification. I use to think I hated TN whiskey but now I love it more than most dickle not included. The distinction is important imo

[@dougsowell]

I'm opening my JD 12 tonight. I had have tasted it before and it is awesome.

[@matthewtripp6144]

Im ready for the list!

[@IvIidnight]

May the new year bring you all the ability to improve your situation, and the wisdom to actually do so.

[@godfreygayle4603]

Any chance of sharing the laser code from the ECBP C923? Just be interesting to see if yours was an “early” bottle?

[@0529mpb]

Early is 8 to 10 days before late. I think the first 2 or 3 days had some issues and it was all good after that. So A222, A223 and A224 are the ones to avoid. A231, A232 and A233 are safe bets.

[@whatsthepoint170]

I like that you guys balance each other out in the voting, so it’s not skewed to a specific palate preference. Thanks for the list

[@southernchristopher2680]

Great video!! Good insight into what makes a great bourbon.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thank you!

[@philip5276]

Folks I loved the episode and watched it live with the nice pour of Knob creek :) lots of work gone into it, editing was cool especially on tasting notes! Happy New year ! 🍿🍎🥃

[@bobhanson6586]

Great exploration. On future evaluations (especially on some of the lesser known brands) it would be interesting for you to touch on MSRP vs 2nd market. Some of us enthusiasts (dreamers) might actually decide to reach for a few of your suggestions but a starting point would really help some of us following along. Yes there are apps for that, but they lack your tasting insight thanks/now following Edit: Now just saw your wrap up and that you intend to do this in the future. Thank you!

[@jasono.1629]

Wow, some surprises for me. Surprised (but happy) that Jack 12 year scored so high. Also surprised George T. Stagg was #1. I havent tried either by the way lol. Great video and rankings! Yes I’d like a deep-dive into more stats / data from your rankings, it would be interesting to hear for us nerds.

[@dennisp362]

This years gts blew me away as well. Glad i landed one! Happy new years.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Glad you did, too! Happy New Year!

[@C_H_1972]

Yay! I have a GTS 2023 for the first time ever this year 😂! It’s sooo nice to feel in the loop. After years of supporting a local store, I was able to buy one for less than 1/2 secondary. I don’t regret it for a second. I paid less than what it costs for a WT Generations at SPR. Sooo worth it for a lifetime experience. Your list makes sense. Fred Ms does not. I love Larceny BP, but 2 in the top 10? Better than GTS? Nah! Thanks and happy new year. I’m looking forward to your next list!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Congrats on the GTS!

[@100puremustard5]

Not sure what "less than half secondary" is but it was an easy pass for me at $699 yesterday 😂

[@C_H_1972]

@@100puremustard5 No problem. I’m happy to clarify less than 1/2 of $900. $400! 😂 Got it now?!

[@tillersbourbonchallenge]

Great picks 👍

[@Awillemain90]

The amount of effort you all put in to appease us as the audience…incredible. From one very appreciative viewer (me), thank you for that. Love the channel and the content.

[@kevinweber1966]

Great video. Looking forward to the best rye video. Glad you kept it the best of the year. Ignore the haters.

[@joestelma4765]

Very cool to see JD 12 yr at #3. I'm drinking some now to ring in the New Year!

[@johnferron3709]

Just curious of what bottle laser code you had for ecbp given all of the recent controversy

[@nateduncan9182]

Love those glasses I need to find Glencairns like that.

[@gerhardschote8000]

Guten Abend und guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr 🎉

[@matthewhall8790]

I've been mostly buying store picks this year, so hard to weigh in here, but a couple standouts in the store pick category was a Remus Highest Rye bourbon and a Russell's pick done by a local whiskey bar.

[@dnkshaffer9305]

Store picks have been great for me this year. One of the best was blue note juke joint. So good and only $45

[@matthewhall8790]

@@dnkshaffer9305 I didn't get a Blue Note this year, but I had one in 2022 and it was fantastic! If you like rye, the Riverset single barrels are absolutely astonishing and super affordable, I can't say enough good stuff about them.

[@davids2206]

Would have loved to seen how RR Camp Nelson F would have done in this list

[@YoPaulieMusic]

#1 is no surprise... of the hundreds of bourbons I have tried, it is head and shoulders above anything else I have tasted. It's a gem, a unicorn, and impossible to find. :)

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Love your attitude AND your realism about GTS! A lot of people in the comments don't share in the first part of your sentiment and only concentrate on the last part.

[@Jack-nx4rt]

Great video guys and happy New Year! Just wondering whether the Four Roses Small Batch LE 2023 made it into the blinds?

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thanks! And yes, it did.

[@Thrashzer]

Just a correction... Fred didn't put this year's George T. Stagg as first on his list. It was the Buffalo Trace Prohibition: Old Stagg. Right?

[@WeSipping]

Yup that’s right

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Correct. We got it mixed up.

[@Thrashzer]

@@ItsBourbonNight - No worries, great list! Happy New Year!

[@0529mpb]

Yeah and Larceny C923 was somehow number two.

[@whatsthepoint170]

It’s true. But if you watch Fred’s solo review of GTS ‘23 it looked like he was about to stain his pants while tasting it 😂

[@DBTdad]

How any Benchmark product found its way into this list is uncomprehendable. Even as a honorable mention.

[@yourdrinkingbuddy]

We had the same bottle at #3! Cool!

[@GeraldFigal]

Believe or not, I got to try the 2023 GTS at a neighbor’s party during the summer. And, believe or not, he had won it in a lottery. Super incredible stuff.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Awesome!

[@UEnjoyMiself]

the 2019 GTS is the only one I have had. it was amazing and best ive ever tasted

[@billscott6819]

The top five takes aside from the GTS (which I've not had) are so on point it makes me want to track one down. I think the Minnick top pick was that retro "Old Stagg" release, and he kinda shat on the 23 GTS he had a sample of.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Yep, we got that one mixed up, you're right. But GTS this year is just exceptional.

[@chrisw4192]

Stagg Jr was my favorite this year just behind The C923 Elijah

[@nickp5511]

Nice list! Best price on the GTS around me is 600.00

[@malmeyer]

Great episode! Always love to hear what your favorites are for the year. Looking forward to your other Best of's as well. Happy New Year!

[@markkarsch1333]

Lucky to get 2 of 10, ECBP and Kelvin v. Both great but ECBP much cheaper and easier to find.

[@GenerationDigital]

Love the variation of the list, especially compared to some of the other annual lists out there. Just goes to show how unique everyone’s tastes are! Happy New Year 🎉

[@audiodeluxe7647]

So everything mostly if not all unobtainable to us regular folks. Looking forward to a hopeful real list of bottles most folks can actually obtain. Four Gates, Beam distillery exclusives, and BTAC are just unicorns to 99.7% of your subscribers. The C923 is about the only thing we could hope to stumble upon.

[@WhiskyForBeginners]

"Best" means best. If I can't afford it - and I probably can't afford anything; I'm just starting the video - that doesn't make it not the best. Besides, they're going to do another video which includes factors such as price, so they're way ahead of the point.

[@whiskeyriffslounge]

Hey guys. Love this review. Was surprised to see the Old fitz in the top ten. Was not a fan of this one but to each his own. Great content as always!! Cheers guys

[@maddie4077]

Was yours the spring release? I heard the fall release was a bust, although I haven't had either.

[@ricardovelez7686]

1. As always extremely high quality and professional review. 2. Great Channel love the vids, keep up the good work. 3. This is not a knock on you guys at all. And before some reject copy and pastes to go and defend you I appreciate all of the caveats at the beginning of the video to show "hey this is the best if there is no restrictions like money or availability". But man these last few years made it impossible to get anything on your guys list. Hunting is no longer fun or exciting because all the secrets are out and all the shops know and markup. Recently I have stuck to mainly local distilleries as they are plentiful where I'm at. Wild turkey used to be the one Distillery you could get the special editions. But ever since Russell 13 they have jumped the shark and you really can't get it without spending stupid money. Again awesome job and I can't wait for your other best of videos

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Appreciate the comment! Yeah, with Wild Turkey it's funny how you used to be able to get Master's Keeps, and then one year, as if all of a sudden, they were nowhere to be found. Could be because of RR13 or could be because each year bourbon is more popular than the last. We had a similar experience with our Best of the Year videos, which you may already be familiar with. One year (2022) our comments shifted to where we had people saying they were disappointed in us because our top picks were so hard to get. A switch had obviously flipped. So we'll be doing that adjusted list video this year for first time like we mentioned in the video and see how the community reacts to it. I think it will be a different approach than how most people tackle it, but we shall see! Thanks again and cheers!

[@greenmushroom4258]

Can’t wait for the rye version!

[@NoahP.G]

Great list Always look forward to these end of the year videos, please keep making them Would love to see even more videos featuring some of your more rare bottles in the collection!

[@joekirk7909]

Surprised with the WT generations, that’s the best bottle I’ve tried all year….although I haven’t had any BTAC yet.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We loved it when we tried it. Well, myself more so than Sara, but she still really liked it and would agree it’s a fantastic Bourbon. 13th overall isn’t all that bad, just means we liked 12 things a little better, obviously. But I’ll gladly take a pour of Generations any time!

[@terrencemcdermott5840]

I will say the nerd in me would love to see your individual lists with corresponding scores at the end. Like on each side of the screen with the averaged list with scores in the center so I can see what changed and who changed the center list and see how your palates differ. But again that’s the nerd in me. Haha😂

[@kevingaray1313]

I had GTS ‘23 at a bar recently and it blew me away. Like not just top of this year but some of the best bourbon I’ve ever had and I’ve had GTS in the past.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

It’s pretty exceptional, right?!

[@mpprod6631]

It bothers me so much the trolls that comment that these are too unobtainable… like you guys made a whole separate video and whole 5 minutes of this video disclaiming. People are such whiners.

[@fredgrebner526]

Ahhhh, does it “bother you so much”? 😂😂😂 Are you triggered? 😂😂😂

[@GOTAisMe]

Stop trying to justify your methodology. Chad you brought up Minnick. He explains what ends up in his rankings and that's it. You guys want to let us know what is the best bourbon you had over the year and I and many others absolutely appreciate that for all the reasons Sara mentioned. You guys gave the criteria for judging and then followed those rules. Nuff said! Keep up the tremendous work. Love the videos and I'm a huge fan of the way you present IBN. You're doing great!

[@michaelhogan7866]

Wow, if Sara gives it 97+ it must be great! I didn’t know her score went that high!

[@clydekimsey7503]

I saw you with Brewzie at the Kentucky bourbon festival 😊

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Yeah, that was the first time we met him!

[@CapBeefjpcg]

Did you guys include all of the other BTACs in the blind? You both really liked the Handy so it's interesting to see it didnt make the top 15.

[@MichaelS_MathanDearg]

Great job as always you crazy kids! The editing and pace were stellar. A couple of thoughts: 1) Thank you for clarifying the abbreviation "M.F." because when I saw "Good M.F." & "Really Great M.F." my brain went elsewhere 😜 2) I appreciate seeing two 17-year-olds in the top ten because we know how Sara feels about them. 3) I am curious about 16-39, could you list them somewhere, say a future KZbin description? I am looking forward to the other lists!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Thanks! I think we will do our normal in-depth analysis show like we've done for the past couple of years and we'll get more into where everything placed in that show.

[@stevefromchicago8277]

If ECBP C923 wasn’t on here I was going to unsubscribe. Great vid Happy New Year. Chapter indexes aren’t there btw

[@jg5555]

I feel like if I can get out of my recliner and get to bed without breaking anything, then I've enjoyed my bourbon night responsibly.

[@WhiskyForBeginners]

I'll never understand people who pitch a hissy fit because they can't afford some or all of the bottles on a "best of" list. It's like complaining about a list of the 10 best stock car drivers because I can't afford to put together a team and enter the races. I can't afford those bottles either - but there's so much outstanding whisky that I can afford that for me to cry about the prices of the stuff in the list would be puerile. I frankly find it difficult to believe that there's anything out there which is substantially better than Balcones Texas Pot Still Bourbon ($30), Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof ($35 or so for a pint), or Balcones True Blue corn whisky ($58 with tax). [edit] I had to leave suddenly, but I'm back. 🙂 15:46 I've not had the 12 year, but I had a sample of the 10 year, which was great, and I have a bottle of the SBBP which is also great. I was wary of the Jack Daniel's distillery because of the mediocrity of the Old No. 7, but it turns out they can turn out some fantastic whisky. As for the whole Tennessee whiskey debate, I consider it to be a variety of bourbon, just as high rye and wheated are subsets of bourbon. 🙂 21:11 Josh and Erin of Stuff & Whisky taste things blind, rate them, and then check the price to see if that alters the rating - which it sometimes does. It sounds like y'all are going to do something like that in the coming video. I'm happy with this episode, but it'll be interesting to see how the next one goes. 🥃

[@mikestewart3670]

C923 should be in there for sure. Allocated ones are hard to suggest for most of us that never see them. Hard to agree or disagree on this list.

[@davidgoldman6575]

Another list of bottles we can’t get….just kidding guys love what you do and just trying to balance out some of the hate in the comments sections. Don’t change a thing we all want to know what you guys liked this year.

[@zackbutler950]

Did you guys get Russel’s reserve CNF or four roses le 135? I assume not if it wasn’t on the list

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Four Roses LE was on the list but did not place will this year.

[@zackbutler950]

@@ItsBourbonNight wow surprising!

[@mikec5018]

Okay. Having so many bottles and brands to choose from. These Whiskey of the Year challenges need to be broken down by price points. Affordability is what I'm looking for. Whiskey of Year Under $50, $100, $200. Oh and I did see a Staag BTAC once on a shelf in 2020 for $699.99. Pretty much passed on that one. Probably still there collecting dust.😅

[@MikeyMac12]

Was looking forward to this video all month and it didn’t disappoint! Really surprised to not see the Michter’s 10yr or the Four Roses 135th crack the Top 10 (especially after such strong showings by the SmBLE in recent years). Were both of those included in the 39 samples? Definitely interested in a more in-depth analysis video as well! Would be cool to see the whole #1-39 list with scores… maybe even a comparison of your individual rankings.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

4R SmBLE was included but it was a little off profile this year. Michter's 10 was taken to a bottle share and we lost track of it and it was killed :/

[@877-MASH-NOW]

WHISKEY CHEERS 😎

[@goosala]

Great bourbons which I can not find. :)

[@wynning1372]

13 Colony DO should be on there

[@rosssparks2115]

I thought Minnick's #1 was Old Stagg, but nonetheless another amazing video!

[@ItsBourbonNight]

It was, we got that one mixed up.

[@rosssparks2115]

😁I’ll never get either,but again another killer video!

[@francisrizzo1529]

Wow, ER and GTS but no Mich10? I'm guessing you didn't get a bottle/sample of Mich10 since it's in the top 3 for most youtube lists besides Fred (not sure if he included it in his blinds)...

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We did get a bottle but accidentally let it get killed at a bottle share :o

[@Claire_III]

Wonder what ECBP C923 you had laser code, A22 or A23. GTS is the best juice in the world!!

[@cincywhiskey1505]

Did king of Kentucky not make the list or did you not get to acquire a sample?

[@ItsBourbonNight]

No sample or bottle of it this year. I'm sure it would have done well.

[@JoseMtz02]

Let’s get nutty! #NuttySquad 2023-2024

[@MasterKenG1]

Awesome list! Did you guys have Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon participate in the blind this year?

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We were going to but took it to a bottle share and it got out of our sights. Before we knew it, the bottle was killed. :/

[@isaacholstein6530]

Can't find any of your top ten where I live 😢

[@archipelago93]

Wait a sec, if you had George T Stagg, then you probably had this year’s William Larue Weller, no? And if so, that means you like Benchmark Full Proof more than WLW?! Didn’t see that one coming 😂

[@IvIidnight]

And the last Comments+1 of '23. 🙂

[@cirquemagic]

So Four roses small batch select beat out their 135th LE? I’m not sure how that could have happened

[@ItsBourbonNight]

The blind score is unforgiving and perplexing at times.

[@bmc2567]

Interesting when you take other factors into account what it will look like. Top 2 even 3 are rare and hard to find. A couple of those we can’t even get in the Carolinas. Still a good review though!

[@jeremymcbride]

Fred put the GTS as #15/100 - not #1. #1 was the new Old Stagg

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Yeah we got it mixed up.

[@texas66]

I would like to suggest a scoring point... Does it taste like Bourbon?....

[@Forest4TheTreez]

Why are the quality bourbons so expensive?

[@terrencemcdermott5840]

Man, I haven’t even made into the rankings yet, but have to say I feel bad for you both. The reiterating of the fact that price and availability did not play a part in this must be exhausting as well as all the comments I’m sure you get. Saying it once is more than enough. If you tell me this is a blind of the best, done. Understood. If you said this is the best value bourbons and then threw Gays in sure I would take issue, but come one people. Anyway sorry just had to say I’m sorry you have to put so much effort into that part of this. Cheers!

[@joshuabunkers1494]

That Old Fitz bottle says "aged 9 years" and "Fall of 2018". That cannot be eligible for 2023, can it?

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Correct. If you look down at the bottom of the screen, you'll see something to the effect of "Previous year's bottle shown for illustration purposes". We didn't have a bottle of the 10 year to show.

[@Mataz007]

Very surprised to see 13th colony double oak missing out on the top ten. Goes to show, don't believe the hype!

[@oshahelp]

The little people will never get a stagg.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

They sell pours of it to the little people (us being included in the little people, of course) at a good Bourbon bar if you have one near you. As long as the price isn't crazy, it's worth it if you're celebrating something.

[@YoJimBo851610]

357👍

[@John-iw2ny]

yuck to the Lincoln County method!

[@Bourbonspice]

Wow no Michters 10 year… interesting

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We took it to a bottle share and it got killed :/

[@systemtrend3194]

I will wait until your other video list that factors in price and availability before I bash you for putting ECBP C923 at number 10 lol. Glad to see JD12 at number 3 though.

[@jschapp77]

I suppose it’s a good list. Who knows? The average person won’t have a chance to buy just about any of these.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

Agreed. We look at it like we would look at a list of the 10 Best Restaurants in 2023. If you’re a foodie, it will likely interest you and be worth a watch, but the majority of people watching will never eat there. There are the lucky few that will make it a point to go to one for a big milestone or celebration, and that’s kinda how the super rare, more expensive whiskey are treated these days. Good to know what’s good incase that day ever comes for one of us.

[@stephaniebork8940]

👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@majhaze]

Fun list but honestly… I don’t even see most of these bourbons to stare at, much less get to buy… which puts your list… kind of out of touch for us regular folks

[@ItsBourbonNight]

We hear that, and that's why we made our 2nd list that factors in price and availability. Go check it out if you haven't already. We'll always do the best overall list, though. One, because people seem to enjoy it, and two, it's our mission to try as much new things in a year as we can and report on it. I get where you're coming from though, but I look at it like this; if I'm a fan of cars, I might want to know what the 10 fastest car were in 2023. Can I find or afford any of them? Absolutely not. But cars still interest me and I like to stay in the loop as a hobbyist. Now, if i'm in the market to buy a car, I'll go watch a completely different type of list! :)

[@TBBMusicBlog]

Oh hey, a boatload of bottles no one can get for a reasonable price. Great.

[@ItsBourbonNight]

True. And yet, they were the best of the best when tasted blind. It seems that's just how Bourbon is these days, for the most part. But hope you tune into our adjusted list where we factor in price and availability.