Best Bourbon

Put on some low and slow music, get out your favorite Glencairn whiskey glass and peruse our picks for top bourbons. Whether you love a light and sweet wheated bourbon or a strong and smoky barrel proof, you'll find a range of pours and prices here to turn your kitchen bar shelf into a top shelf. So stir up a Kentucky mule or a maple bourbon smash to celebrate one of America's most famous types of whiskey.

These 10 bourbons were selected by our featured panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.

1. Woodford Reserve

Balanced while incredibly complex, Woodford Reserve fine bourbon has turned distillation into an artform. There are over 200 flavor notes, from banana and orange to tobacco and warm spice. Its finish is satisfyingly creamy and smooth, leaving you basking in the sensory journey this bourbon takes you on and mixing it with every bourbon-based cocktail you make.

2. Blanton's Gold

From the highly acclaimed Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, comes Blanton's Gold, the world's first single-barrel bourbon. You'll love the smoky tobacco and oak flavors followed by caramel, honey and citrus notes. It was made for true lovers of bourbon, and it's so smooth and clean, you can drink it neatly.

3. Stagg

Bourbon connoisseurs always clamor for the next release of George T. Stagg small-batch bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Why? Its chocolate and brown sugar taste blends beautifully with its fruity, smoky scent, winning the bourbon plenty of awards and admirers. Robust but still smooth, Stagg was made for slow sipping.

4. Four Roses Bourbon

Searching for an easy introduction to bourbon? You'll find it in a bottle of Four Roses Bourbon. It's considered an excellent gateway into the world of bourbon because of a lower alcohol content along with a light floral aroma, fresh apple and pear flavors and a smooth finish. The best part is that the price tag is as pretty as the rose-etched bottle.

5. Angel's Envy

Take a tour of Louisville's famous Whiskey Row without leaving your dining room with a glass of Angel's Envy. From the scent of vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts to the taste of ripe fruit and bitter chocolate, you'll love the nuanced flavors and clean finish. Your next whiskey sour will thank you.

6. Maker's Mark

Three generations of master distillers have turned Maker's Mark into one of the most popular premium bourbons on the globe. This sweet wheated bourbon will wow you with its bright vanilla and fruit notes as soon as you break the bottle's signature hand-dipped seal. The fruity flavor finishes clean with a creamy, flowery spice. It's a good thing Maker's Mark is affordable because you'll certainly want more.

7. Elijah Craig

Sweet, complex, woodsy—it's why Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a perennial winner in every spirits competition it enters. Take your Old Fashioned to the next level with this bourbon's warm, smoky taste and fruity, minty aroma. And its accessible price point takes the guilt out of buying such a finely crafted bourbon.

8. Bulleit Bourbon

Though relatively new to the world of spirits, Bulleit Bourbon from Bulleit Frontier Whiskey is quickly becoming a go-to pour for American whiskey drinkers thanks to an affordable price and a 150-year-old bourbon family recipe that the distillery has perfected. Its medal-winning blend of spicy rye, smoky oak and sweet maple has a clean, silky finish that captures the essence of Kentucky's pioneer days.

9. Knob Creek

Take a trip through the hills of Kentucky on a lovely spring day with a sip of Knob Creek 9 Year Bourbon Whiskey. Its sweet caramel, woodsy and floral flavors and its nutty, fruity scent will have you mixing up Manhattans and mint juleps as soon as the weather turns warm.

10. Larceny Barrel Proof

You can taste the excellence that goes into each small batch of Larceny Barrel Proof bourbon from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown. It's a wheated bourbon, which balances the high proof with a sweet, smooth taste. Notes of nougat, vanilla and a chocolatey char give a full-bodied flavor and dark complexity to this bold bourbon.

About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.

Our Featured Panelists

Susan Lanier-Graham is founder and publisher of Wander With Wonder, an award-winning online travel journalism magazine. She has authored more than 75 books and hundreds of magazine articles while traveling the world over the past three decades. Susan's work has appeared in a variety of publications, including various AAA publications, TravelandLeisure.com, Hotels.com, Modern Luxury, WHERE publications, Fairmont.com, Marriott.com and more. Susan is a member of Society of American Travel Writers, International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, and North American Travel Journalists Association. She is also a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist.

Theresa Russell thrives on the thrill of travel, visiting new destinations and experiencing local food, beverages and culture whether she is in Anchorage or Zihuatanejo. Cruising has a special place in her heart, but she's stranger to other types of travel. Hiking the Inca Trail and cycling across the North American continent rank as some of her most memorable trips. Visiting many countries opened her eyes to the world and made her realize how much we are all alike. She is proud to have received awards for both her writing and photography. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.