Top 10 Bourbons of 2023. Best Bourbon of 2023

[@bourbonbill]

Cheers everyone thanks for a great year. Drop a comment on what your top bourbon was.

[@WhiskeyCorner]

Great video Bourbon Bill! Awesome list!

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks Carlos put in the work tasting thru it lol only other whiskeytubers know our sacrifices lol

[@The_Profezor]

Yes, take the credit for being one of the only channels to review the WJ10 Anniv. I bought two of these thanks to your comparison review. Not only that, but I avoided overspending on WJ13 because you included it in the same video. Thanks for all that you do. Happy New Year to you and Rita.

[@bourbonbill]

Glad I could help out yeah Widow Jane did a horrible job advertising that release but I honestly believe it’s the best thing they have put out besides the vault series which are like 250 each so at less than half it’s the best value too considering regular 10yr is like 70ish and decadence and 13yr over 100 now. Happy New Year

[@trini-xrp1656]

C'mon Rita , you got one job😅😅

[@bourbonbill]

Haha I know fell down on the job on this one

[@javieracosta3439]

Vanna White has nothing to worry about

[@bourbonbill]

@@javieracosta3439haha that’s the name I was looking for

[@100puremustard5]

Bill be sleepin on the couch that night 😂😂😂

[@MichaelBortner-qk4zl]

Nice lineup, I was lucky enough to get a fair number of those bottles. And Drug City knows how to pick them, I have that KC. Cheers and here is to a great 2024 year of whiskey 😎🥃

[@bourbonbill]

Isn’t that KC killer! Probably the best value of 2023 if I had to choose a value king

[@MichaelBortner-qk4zl]

@@bourbonbill for a 120pf I think it drinks like 105. It is (hate to use the word but) smooth, nice sweet oak, nice apple note maybe pear. I could get in trouble sipping on the who’s there😎🥃🔥

[@bourbonbill]

@@MichaelBortner-qk4zl​​⁠absolutely it’s the extra age on it that makes it better to me and you are right it drinks below proof

[@bcaff66]

Love the Widow Jane 10yr. Incredible

[@bourbonbill]

Yeah it’s an underrated pour

[@timbuma3693]

Solid list, and quite a few things I haven’t tried so I’ll have to be on the lookout!

[@bourbonbill]

You would love all these Tim!

[@BuckMcAntlerson]

No Stagg... OK! Thought 22A might show up. Great list. That Russell's 13 is chef's kiss.

[@bourbonbill]

Per my own rules I never could find a bottle of it or any stagg jr to put in Pa moved them to lottery this year and I didn’t win lol

[@danegarcia457]

Thank you bourbon bill

[@bourbonbill]

My pleasure had fun making it lol

[@bcaff66]

Store Picks are tough to put into Top 10 lists. Nobody can get it. Love this channel…

[@bourbonbill]

I get that but the single barrels I put in others can likely get something similar maybe not that one and probably any peerless single barrel would place in that spot and any older KC pick would too

[@realreviews3118]

My favorite of the year was ECBP 923. A22 etching. Not sure I agree with that whole theory! Great vid. Russell’s 15 keeps the price down, I’ll be a buyer also!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha yeah well someone asked me what code mine was earlier took me like 5 mins to find it but yeah it’s delicious either way is my guess. I hope wild turkey and Campari come back to reality in 2024 with their pricing

[@danimerc1802]

I really enjoy watching your reviews, and your top ten picks are solid. I agree with you on the Frankfort, it is excellent.

[@bourbonbill]

Thanks for watching and yeah Hardins creek while talked about missed the buzz it deserved this year

[@davevogelsang6791]

All great bottles BB. RR 13 was my top bourbon in 2023, until I picked up Michter’s 10 Year Bourbon. I liked all the Hardin’s Creek and picked up an extra Frankfort, because it was my favorite of the 3. Happy New Year. 🥃

[@bourbonbill]

RR13 killed it really the last three years consistently in the top 2 for me

[@davevogelsang6791]

@@bourbonbill Hey BB. You should do a blind battle between Frankfort and Jacob’s Well 211

[@bourbonbill]

@@davevogelsang6791oh it’s already filmed

[@jamesstreet1144]

Great whiskey there. At least I’ve got 3 of your final four.

[@bourbonbill]

Hey that’s the top of the list you got the right ones

[@Rocky-cx6qz]

Glad to see hardins creek frankfort take 1st those HCs were overlooked all year. Bombergers was pretty incredible thus year as well. One that made list is stagg 22a which was for sure top 5 for me

[@bourbonbill]

Absolutely they didn’t get enough love for not only how good they were but also the value for the age was through the roof. I unfortunately didn’t get any Stagg jr bottles this year so per the rules couldn’t make the list

[@goin_outside]

Great video! I love the sly comments from the off camera producer. Someone has to keep us in check!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha she likes to reign me in

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

How many dollhairs was the #1 Hardin's Creek?

[@bourbonbill]

Msrp was 175 dollhairs for any of the Hardins creek trio from 2023

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

@@bourbonbill did you have to travel to the homeland for that?

[@bourbonbill]

@@jolkraeremeark6949no got it from a buddy in Illinois I got the sample pack though with all three from bourbon outfitters. Honestly these run about 250 on secondary groups maybe a tad less if you shop around or trade. Unfortunately these only go to a few select states but those states have a ton it seems

[@dans713]

Great job...like the rankings I can pretty much watch the other big boys and guess what the top 5 were gonna be! And I do agree with what you picked! Just pissed I passed on the Frankfort now I gotta go find one...!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha well a secret is the even newer one the Hardins creek Jacob’s well 2 the 211 month one is even better that’s also the latest buy that 100%

[@dans713]

I have a purple top called 38 Special. 149 proof 9 year old know anything about it?

[@bourbonbill]

@@dans713no I don’t unfortunately. Not the biggest willet fan so I don’t pay them much attention

[@dans713]

@@bourbonbill yeah me either that's why I'm asking. Got it at just above MSRP good old interest prices show it at $1500-2K dollhairs crazy and being such high proof not sure I'm gonna like it? So might sell it? I have a big whiskey group that whnt it bad..

[@bourbonbill]

@@dans713​​⁠the demand for willet always surprised me. All the lesser stuff I hate and the willet purple tops are okay but they are like 100 bill bottles at most not sure why people assign such a high value

[@tylerlundberg4594]

Widow Jane made it in my top 10 also!! Also didn’t put in in the blinds

[@bourbonbill]

Widow Jane that anniversary bottle kills it

[@3800fanatic]

Excellent list sir would have liked to see where michters 10 placed but I assume you don't have a bottle

[@bourbonbill]

Bingo didn’t get a bottle myself so couldn’t add it. It’s really good but wouldn’t have placed top 5 for me for sure top 10 but too low proof to stand up for me to even JD12

[@josephmajor7761]

That Tomars peerless pick is becoming legendary.

[@bourbonbill]

Haha certainly not from my videos I don’t think but it is very good. I think it’s the fact that 2023 saw the first picks of peerless double oaks sold outside of the distillery

[@MichaelC_22]

I remember you loved the oakiness of the A123 as did I. Do you think if the C923 didn't hit it out of the park the way it did and making everyone's Top 10, A123 would have been a contender?

[@bourbonbill]

Absolutely it would have made top 10 if C923 wasn’t a hitter. I loved A123 and it was the best thing they have done besides C923 since 2020. Maybe I should have included both but didn’t want two of the same on the list

[@javieracosta3439]

Its been another fun year. I gotta pick Russells 13 batch 4 for my fav. I did recently land a Stagg 23B that has opened up to become very interesting but perhaps less pleasing. Little Book 7 is good but would stick out in a blind with the top two. Did pick up the WJ10 but would rather drink a Dickel BiB (call me crazy) also found a Bombergers, Barrell 35, 1792 Sweet Wheat and 12 year but havent cracked them. I do have a C923 ECBP but its one of the turd bottles and doesnt rank 😂 Cheers Bill!

[@bourbonbill]

Noo you got the bad ECBP bottle so sad. Let me know how you like the 1792 sweet wheat I’ve heard conflicting things never tried it myself. And no shame in picking RR13 it was killer good

[@PWNAGIZER]

I'm actually commenting. (haha Rita makes me die laughing) 🤣 Yea I still have a ton of 14-15 yr KC picks from years ago that I bought for 30-40 bucks each. Honestly it's so tough to kill them though because I'll miss them so much. Also those Peerless picks are killer. I got a pick for both the DO bourbon and rye ugh fantastic. Cheers!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha Rita is a welcome addition at times and I feel you. I have a KC12CS left that I milk too. I need to get more peerless I tend to make them disappear really quickly

[@Bergkampgunner]

Haven’t tried Frankfort yet but Clermont is outstanding. Recently got the triple pack of 200ml bottles so that will change soon. I have four batches of the RR13, tried three, and all are great C923 also was a big step up and reminded me of the old ones. I still have a B520 and I’ll reach out when I open it and get you a sample. C918 is probably my favorite if I remember correctly I didn’t get either Old Fitz last year and was sad by that. I actually haven’t gotten one since the 11 year. I’ve tried a friends 17 and it was probably the best thing I tasted in 2022 other than RR13 (although those are very different experiences). I got Parker’s Heritage Double Barrel Bourbon in 2023 so that would have probably made my list. Top five would be that, JD 12, HC Clermont, RR13 and C923 in no particular order

[@bourbonbill]

That’s stellar top 5 for sure. And yeah old fitz never impressed me until I got to try the 17 and get a 19

[@MikeMike-sz3fu]

When is Rita going to make an appearance on the show lol 😂 great content Bill

[@bourbonbill]

I keep asking her

[@chads5968]

Okay, which do you give the nod to, HC Frankfort or HC Jacob's Well? I'm guessing you didn't consider JW as a '23 bottle.

[@bourbonbill]

I didn’t consider Jacob’s well batch 2 as a 2023 bottle. But my review for that will be out Jan 16th or the 11th if we want a spoiler it’s the best thing they have done period

[@DahBeers]

My dad and I both have bottles of C923 and we have blinded both of our bottles on multiple occasions against other barrel proof products we have in our respective bars. We noticed his stands out above and beyond no matter the bottles it’s paired against. The aroma fills the room, tons of rich caramel, dark fruit and vanilla. Long and sweet desserty oak finish. Mine on the other hand is still very good bourbon but for example lost twice to a 134.7 proof ecbp pick that his c923 destroyed blind. The nose at times is a little more muted but opens up as you drink it. Palate is very similar but not quite as rich and a little hot. The finish is the big difference it’s pretty tannic, and very drying. We didn’t think anything of it, but then I saw the laser code conspiracy so we checked the codes and oddly both our bottles are A222… So in my experience it might be more than just the codes. His bottle scored as my number 2 bourbon of the year only behind RR13 batch 5 (finally got one 🎉)

[@bourbonbill]

That’s crazy how different the two bottles were. Glad you got a RR13 it’s phenomenal

[@DahBeers]

@@bourbonbill yeah both are still delicious, but the difference is noticeable. Probably wouldn’t be if his bottle wasn’t so damn good and I hadn’t drank it before I had my own.

[@robd8167]

Bit surprised by #1 I thought Single Rickhouse would take it.

[@bourbonbill]

I didn’t get a bottle of single rick or actually even a sample so couldn’t place anywhere on my list unfortunately

[@thurstonhowell-3]

Camp Nelson F ?

[@bourbonbill]

Didn’t get a bottle so couldn’t include it I haven’t sampled it myself either but from what others say I feel like it would have fallen just in front or just behind RR13 is my guess

[@thurstonhowell-3]

@@bourbonbill I feel like your preferences are very ‘in line’ with ADHD Whiskey - he gave Camp F a 9.0. I have both and will say that the Camp F is the 13 turned up to 11 (maybe 13).

[@bourbonbill]

Dang well maybe I should have got one. I didn’t want to spend the 300 at the time. Oh well I’m sure they will have one next year they are also doing a RR15 next year

[@thurstonhowell-3]

@@bourbonbill I passed on the Heaven Hill 17 for the same reason (it was $275 I think). The area rep for Russell made it known that these were VERY hard to get. If you want to swing by later - I’ll give you a pour. 😄

[@bcaff66]

Disagree vehemently, NY is a great state!! Lol😂

[@bourbonbill]

Haha fair enough

[@jeffnuzz]

Although I got the HC Jacob's Well, didn't manage to grab any of this year's trio. Picked up a couple RR13s but haven't cracked them yet, looking forward to that. That said, I was lucky to grab several ECBP C923s and it was fantastic. I've been picking up ECBPs for the last few years and managed to bunker several B520s. If you're interested in a sample let me know.

[@bourbonbill]

Hey nothing wrong with ECBP and yeah would love a sample of the B520 I have C920 and I think C923 is better than that but people always say B520 was the best of the 2020 lineup

[@jeffnuzz]

@@bourbonbill Just let me know where to send that sample of B520.

[@bourbonbill]

@@jeffnuzz ​​⁠shoot me an email at [e-mail]

[@DavidStern-j7x]

Was I your only subscriber from "the not-so-great state of New York"?

[@bourbonbill]

haha you must be no one else commented on it. How is the bourbon scene there? I used to work remote for a NY company and every time i traveled there (long island) pricing was high

[@Bourbon_Blue_Devil]

I'm trying to figure out why you keep saying doll hairs.

[@bourbonbill]

Haha more of a joke the local bourbon group band the use of the word dollars so I just switched it up

[@Bourbon_Blue_Devil]

@@bourbonbill ah. I see.

[@tombetty1313]

Think you need a new assistant. 😂😂.

[@bourbonbill]

I’ll tell Rita to step it up lol

[@joeblo5516]

Dollars! Dollars! Just say Dollars!

[@bourbonbill]

Dollar…doll hair…dollars whew that was tough

[@Danr07]

Get outta here with your Kings English Joeblo. Round here everyone knows it’s DollHairs.

[@ericlairson4885]

Well that's a first Bourbon Bill! Your computer broke on JD 10. 97 proof is not 46 1/2 proof. 😂

[@ericlairson4885]

Love your vids by the way!

[@bourbonbill]

Haha ahh dang better replace the batteries

[@randalldobbs1753]

not so great state of ny lol

[@bourbonbill]

I couldn’t help myself

[@FRUITSparty]

Many of those whisky have only one or two drops of a very old whisky the rest is 8 years old don't believe everything you read

[@bourbonbill]

By law if the label says an age that is the minimum age of the blend