Top 10 best value for money American whiskeys

American whiskey is charming style-conscious and connoisseur imbibers alike – but as consumer demand peaks, which expressions offer the most bang for buck?

Take a look through our pick of the top 10 best value for money American whiskeys on the market

The Spirits Business held its annual American Whiskey Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from single malt to moonshine, Bourbon to rye, a wide range of whiskeys were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each American whiskey listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money American whiskeys of 2016.

Breckenridge Bourbon

Price: approx £35

This small batch high-rye Bourbon produced in Colorado was bestowed a Master medal. Judges claimed it won them over with its initial “vegetal hit, and then nutty, chocolatey notes”. There was also a “varnish on the nose which you get with really high-end American whiskeys”. Breckenridge Bourbon is aged for two to three years in American white oak barrels.

Westland Peated

Price: approx £50

Westland Distillery’s Peated release attracted the top accolade, and drew strong comparisons with Scotch. Judges said “on the nose it’s a grassy, earthy note, but an intensely rich one”. Judges felt it hit all the right notes with “marzipan and juicy fruit notes” while another judge greatly enjoyed the “peppermint note on the nose, reminiscent of other Scotches”.

Balcones No.1 Texas Single Malt

Price: approx £80

Launched in July 2011, Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky claimed the Master prize in the Premium Single Malt category. Judges praised that “the consistency from start to finish was stunning”. The tasting notes won the judges over with “lots of toffee, a bit of burnt sugar, heavy oak but in a fun way; and then butterscotch and rounded vanilla”.

Bower Hill – Reserve Rye Whiskey

Price: approx £46

Luxco’s “unusual” and “interesting” Bower Hill – Reserve Rye Whiskey was awarded a Silver for its “cucumber, peppercorn, pepper husk” character in the Rye – Premium category. Reserve Rye is a limited edition, small-batch straight rye whiskey with a “unique” two grain mash bill of 51% rye and 49% malted barley.

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye “Cask Proof”

Price: average £70

Catoctin Creek Roundstone Rye Cask Proof caught the attention of the panel and was accordingly awarded a Gold. The bottling was described as “very balanced and opened well with water”. Judges found it to be a good example of a rye whiskey due to being “sweet” on the nose but with “rye characteristics”.

Bluegrass Kentucky Bourbon

Price: approx £23

The “bread, brioche” and “interesting dusty leather” notes of Aldi Stores’ Bluegrass Kentucky Bourbon won it recognition in the form of a Silver medal in the Bourbon Aged Up To 7 Years category. One of the judges described the whiskey as “nice and different, a delight”, while one happy customer online proclaims it “delicious, smooth, and easy drinking”. 

That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Heaven Hill – Batch 1

Price: approx £80

Heaven Hill – Batch 1 secured a Gold in the Bourbon – No Age Statement flight with a “balance that really brings out the fruit flavours”. It also scored highly for its complexity and “vegetal notes in places”. The label takes a peek inside one of their whiskey ageing warehouses, featuring the sprinkler system they installed following a fire in 1996. Heaven Hill Batch 1 is a release of just 240 bottles.

Balcones Baby Blue

Price: approx £60

Balcones once again came up trumps, scooping a Master for Baby Blue in the Other Grain – No Age Statement. One judge described it as a“boozy Crunchie bar, with toffee and juicy stewed fruits going on”. It was favoured for its “Cognac-esque to a degree”, with the addition of water adding a “white pepper spice”.

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Price: £20

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon was awarded a Gold in the Premium Bourbon flight for its “candied fruit, almost tannic nature” – a juxtaposition of “sweetness and sour fruit undertones”. Buffalo Trace is hand-crafted using Kentucky and Indiana corn, rye and malted barley, and aged in new oak barrels for at least eight years.

Rogue Ales & Spirits’ Dead Guy Whiskey

Price: approx £30

Winning Gold in the Single Malt Aged Up To 7 Years was Rogue Ales & Spirits’ Dead Guy Whiskey, which was deemed to have a “lovely texture” with bread, corn and toffee qualities. Launched in 2009, Dead Guy Whiskey is distilled from the same three malts as Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale.