If there’s one spirit synonymous with the United States of America, it’s bourbon. Indeed, this distinctive variant of whiskey must be produced in the US in order to earn the bourbon name.

That’s not all. At least 51% of the grains used in the making of bourbon must be corn, and the spirit must be aged in new charred white oak barrels. Them’s the rules.

Following its appearance in the 18th century, bourbon has predominantly been distilled in Kentucky. The bourbon market has opened out to encompass a vast range of flavour profiles, though most varieties will contain notes of vanilla and caramel.

Prices can vary even more, with everything from cheap and cheerful mixers to vintage sippers that might set you back four figures. We’ve attempted to land somewhere in between with our list of 5 top bourbons...

WANT MORE CHOICE? HEAD TO OUR 10 BEST BORBOUN WHISKIES GUIDE

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5. Knob Creek

Stop tittering at the back. The fine distillers of Knob Creek don’t need a UK-centric double entendre to sell their bourbon. The strong, spicy flavours of this popular tipple speak for themselves. It’s particularly heavy on the rye, which helps make it less intensely sweet and more punchy than some other entry-level bourbons. It’s not a smooth drinker by any means, but Knob Creek certainly has character. “Rich, sweet, woody, full-bodied, almost fruity,” say the makers.

4. Woodford Reserve Distillers Select

Woodford Reserve’s website boasts of “more than 200 detectable flavour notes” for its flagship bourbon, which should tell you a lot about this complex sipper. This one has picked up a whole heap of awards over the past two decades. Its flavour is rich and heavily spiced, like a boozy Christmas pudding. “Rich, chewy, rounded and smooth, with complex citrus, cinnamon and cocoa,” read the tasting notes. “Toffee, caramel, chocolate and spice notes abound”.

3. Buffalo Trace

Buffalo Trace is one of the most famous Kentucky bourbons on the planet. If you go to any drinking establishment in the developed world, you’ll more than likely find a bottle behind the bar. This flagship tipple earns its popularity with an all-round offering as comfortable alone in a tumbler as it is pepping up a cocktail. “Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit and anise”, says the distiller.

2. Elijah Craig Small Batch

Elijah Craig is so-named after the baptist minister who reportedly first matured bourbon in charred oak barrels. Any drink that wears his name tends to be of top notch quality. This Small Batch variety is uncut and aged for a minimum of 12 years, which is pretty lengthy for a bourbon. The result is a deeply satisfying sipper with notes of “rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper & cinnamon at the back of the palate”.

1. Four Roses Single Barrel

One of the most refined concoctions from this famous distiller, Four Roses Single Barrel has as many plaudits as it does flowery tasting notes. On that latter front, you can expect it to offer “hints of ripe plum & cherries, robust, full body, mellow” on the palate, and a “smooth & delicately long” finish. Add a high proportion of rye to the distiller’s use of five proprietary yeast strains, and you have a seriously complex brew.

READ MORE: 5 MORE OF THE BEST BOURBONS IN THE WORLD