If there’s one thing that shows American heritage and craftsmanship, it’s bourbon. Distilleries have spent centuries perfecting their recipes, creating rare bottles for which collectors would sell their souls. With a price range as vast as its flavor profiles, we’ve compiled a list of the ten most expensive bourbons that are truly worth every penny.
Old Rip Van Winkle 25-Year-Old
Barreled back in 1989 at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, this bourbon has a rich amber-red hue with flavors of caramel, ripe apples, cherries, oak wood, tobacco, and a hint of chocolate. The bad boy will set you back a cool $55,665, so you might have to just admire it from afar.
Pappy Van Winkle Family Selection 23-Year-Old
This bourbon was launched in 1998 by the Sazerac Company at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. It flaunts a deep amber-red color and a bouquet of caramel, ripe apples, cherries, oak, and a whisper of chocolate. It’s worth every penny of its $40,880 if you ask us!
Redemption 36-Year-Old Barrel Proof
After nearly four decades, only 18 bottles came from four barrels, and each bottle was sealed with a 1978 U.S. penny. A taste of this $36,566 bourbon is like having dried orange, cinnamon, anise, sweet smoke, cherry wood, and a hint of barbecue all dancing on your palate.
Old Rip Van Winkle Twisted Spoke 16-Year-Old
This bourbon, aged for a sweet 16 years, comes from the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery. It’s the whiskey equivalent of a Kentucky Derby winner, so as expected, it cost $31,910. The taste will hit you with a pleasant symphony of caramel, honey, and a cheeky mix of dried fruits.
Old Rip Van Winkle’ Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve’ 17 Year
It’s the unicorn of bourbons—thick, oily, and with a burn that’ll wake you right up. But finding a bottle is like hunting for searching treasure. Each sip of this $29,996 bourbon starts with flavors of caramel and vanilla, sneaking in some oak and spice and ending with a velvety finish.
Colonel EH Taylor Old Fashioned Sour Mash
To understand what it tastes like, imagine a whiff of flowers with a sneaky hint of freshly baked bread, followed by flavors of caramel corn sweetness, butterscotch, and a touch of licorice. It is naturally valued at $26,394 and was distilled in 2002 using a unique souring method.
Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey
First hitting the scene in 2013, the whiskey combines first-use barrel selections aged between 10 and over 30 years. At $21,163, it’s quite the pricey pour, but one drop of it is like sticking your nose in a dessert shop with whiffs of crème brûlée, vanilla, molasses, and milk chocolate.
Eagle Rare Double Eagle Very Rare 20-Year-Old
This gem has been chilling for a whole two decades—twice as long as its 10-year-old sibling and has a rich aroma cocktail of toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather, and oak. It costs a good $15,336, and each bottle comes in an expensive silver box and crystal decanter.
The Last Drop 1980 Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Jarred in 2020 by The Last Drop Distillers, it hails from a time when the distillery operated under the name George T. Stagg. It spent almost 20 years chilling in new American oak casks, soaking up all the flavors. Only 240 bottles of this $15,695 exclusive bourbon are available worldwide.
Willett Family Estate Bottled Single-Barrel 16-Year-Old
Flaunting remarkable depth and complexity, it was distilled on June 4, 1993. The aroma features hints of coconut, crème brûlée, and cedar wood, with notes of roasted almonds and cinnamon spice. If you are lucky enough to snag one, the bourbon will cost you around $16,659.
