The Liquor Bros stocks hundreds of bottles of bourbon whiskey, from everyday pours under $30 to allocated releases and single barrels we picked ourselves. Bourbon is a defined category rather than a marketing term: at least 51% corn in the mash bill, aged in new charred oak, distilled in the United States. Everything past that is where the differences actually live, and if you want the full breakdown, here's what separates bourbon from other whiskey. Shop by style, by brand, or by price. We ship bourbon to most states, with an adult 21 or older required to sign at delivery.
Shop bourbon by style
Style is the fastest way to narrow a category this size, and the secondary grain matters more to how a bottle tastes than the price on the label does.
Wheated bourbon. Wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain, which pulls the spice back and pushes the profile toward soft, sweet and round. Weller, Maker's Mark, Larceny.
High-rye bourbon. More rye in the mash bill brings pepper, cinnamon and clove. Four Roses, Bulleit, Basil Hayden.
Single barrel bourbon. One barrel, bottled on its own, so no two are quite the same. Blanton's, 1792 Single Barrel, and our own barrel picks.
Small batch bourbon. A limited number of barrels blended together for consistency. Booker's, Michter's, Penelope.
Cask strength and bottled in bond. Barrel proof bottles go in the bottle uncut and unfiltered, at whatever proof they came out of the barrel. Bottled in bond means 100 proof, at least four years old, one distilling season, one distillery. Stagg and 1792 Bottled in Bond are the reference points.
Kentucky straight bourbon. Distilled and aged at least two years in Kentucky with nothing added but water.
Top bourbon brands we carry
Most of what sells here traces back to a handful of distilleries. Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Kentucky accounts for the largest share of the shelf: Blanton's, W.L. Weller, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Stagg, Ancient Age and Benchmark all come off the same site. Beam's small batch line covers Booker's, Baker's and Basil Hayden. The long-standing independents hold the middle: Maker's Mark, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Michter's. Newer producers are where the category has moved over the last decade, and we stock them deep: Bardstown, Penelope, 2XO, Jefferson's, Rabbit Hole, Garrison Brothers, Rare Character and 1792.
Rare and allocated bourbon
Allocated means the distillery releases a fixed quantity and divides it among retailers, so supply never catches demand. Pappy Van Winkle, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Weller Full Proof and Blanton's Gold all work that way. Browse rare bourbon and top shelf bottles for what's currently in stock, since allocated releases tend not to sit long.
Our barrel picks are the part worth watching. We taste and buy single barrels ourselves, which means bottles that exist here and nowhere else. Same label, different liquid.
How to choose a bourbon
There isn't a best bourbon, only the one that fits how you actually drink.
Proof. 80 to 90 proof suits easy sipping and cocktails. Barrel proof gives you more of everything, and a few drops of water will open it up.
Style. Sweet or spicy is the first fork in the road. Wheated leans sweet, high-rye leans spicy, and most standard mash bills sit somewhere between.
Age. Older isn't automatically better. More time in oak means more tannin and char, which some people want and some don't.
Use. An Old Fashioned doesn't need a $200 bottle. If you're tasting rather than mixing, a Glencairn is worth the ten dollars.
Budget. Plenty of good bourbon sits under $50, and it's worth checking current deals before paying list.
Bourbon FAQ
What makes a whiskey a bourbon?
Bourbon has to be made in the United States from a mash bill of at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak, and bottled at 80 proof or higher. Nothing but water may be added.
Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?
No. Bourbon can legally be made anywhere in the United States, and Texas, Indiana and California all produce good ones. But most of it still comes from Kentucky, and only Kentucky-made bourbon can be labeled Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
What's the difference between wheated and high-rye bourbon?
The secondary grain. Wheat makes for a softer, sweeter pour, which is why Weller and Maker's Mark drink the way they do. More rye brings pepper and baking spice. Neither is better.
What does allocated bourbon mean?
The distillery releases a fixed quantity and divides it among retailers, so supply never meets demand. Pappy Van Winkle, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and Blanton's Gold are the best known examples.
Can bourbon be shipped to my state?
We ship to most U.S. states, typically within a few business days. Someone 21 or older has to sign at delivery. Availability is confirmed at checkout, since a handful of states restrict direct spirits shipments.
How should I store an open bottle of bourbon?
Upright, in a cool dark place away from sunlight. Upright matters because high-proof spirit sitting against the cork will degrade it. An opened bottle holds its character for a year or more.