Uisge Beatha Whisky prices compared

Kentucky whisky

Kentucky makes most of the world’s bourbon, but bourbon does not have to come from Kentucky: US federal rules define it by a mash of at least 51% corn and storage in new charred oak barrels, not by state. This page compares UK prices on the Kentucky whiskeys we track.

The bottles come from distilleries including Maker’s Mark, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, Jim Beam, Rabbit Hole and Michter’s. Bourbon makes up most of the list, but rye such as Michter’s, and corn whiskey such as Mellow Corn, appear too. For bourbon from every state, see bourbon whisky, and for the wider picture, whisky from the USA.

For the rules and the history, see Whiskipedia on bourbon and rye.

  • 73 bottles in stock
  • 6 distilleries
  • From £19.50, median £46.99

Questions

What is the cheapest Kentucky whisky?
The cheapest Kentucky whisky is Jim Beam (40% ABV, 70cl), at £19.50 from Master of Malt. That is £24.45 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: McAfees Benchmark No. 8 Bourbon 70cl (£22.64) and Four Roses Bourbon (£23.95).
How much does Kentucky whisky cost?
Kentucky whisky costs from £19.50 to £1,236.50, with a median of £46.99 for a full-size bottle. The dearest is Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition.
What is the oldest Kentucky whisky you can buy?
WL Weller 12 Year Old 75cl, at 12 years old, from £163.00.
Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?
No. US federal rules only require bourbon to be distilled and aged in the United States, from a mash of at least 51% corn, distilled at 160 proof (80% ABV) or less and aged in new charred oak barrels. Kentucky makes most of it, but bourbon can come from any US state.
What does "Kentucky bourbon" on a label mean?
It means the whiskey was distilled and aged in Kentucky. Federal labelling rules let a state or region appear in the name only if distillation and any required ageing happened there, although blending and bottling can take place elsewhere.
How much of the world's bourbon comes from Kentucky?
About 95%, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. The industry body puts this down to local corn, limestone-filtered water rich in the minerals yeast needs, and hot summers and cold winters that push whiskey in and out of the barrel wood.
What does 'straight bourbon' mean?
Under US rules, straight whisky has been stored in new charred oak barrels for at least two years; plain bourbon has no federal minimum age at all. The word on a label, as on Rabbit Hole’s ‘Kentucky Straight Bourbon’, is a legal claim about time in the cask, not a marketing term.