There’s a huge range of whiskey styles made all over the world, and all across the United States, too. But when it comes to American whiskeys, it’s hard to compete with bourbon. It’s essentially the spirit equivalent of apple pie, the most American alcohol on the market. To earn the moniker “bourbon,” it must be made from 51% corn and every step of the process—mashing, distilling and aging—must be completed within U.S. borders. But in spite of the rigorous rules, there’s still plenty of diversity in the category—which can make it difficult to pick and choose a bottle to buy. Across the country, producers experiment with nearly every aspect of the process, from the blend of grains used for the base and barrels in which the liquid is aged to the amount of time it’s aged and the final alcohol level. There are blended bourbons, cask-finished bourbons, high-rye bourbons—you get the drill. Confused? Don’t stress. The bourbons that made Wine Enthusiast’s list of the Best Spirits of 2023 reflect that variation with best-in-class picks for a wide range of styles. There are classic Kentucky and bottled-in-bond bourbons, multiple budget-friendly picks, as well as barrel-aged versions that make use of different casks. The mix covers not just this year’s top-scoring bottles, but more importantly, those that ignited our tasters’ curiosity and imaginations. Here are the top bourbons of 2023. You May Also Like: The Best Scotch Whisky to Drink Right Now Best Independent Bourbon Best Cask-Finished Bourbon Best Blended Bourbon Best High-Rye Bourbon Best Kentucky Bourbon Best Budget Bourbon Bank Street Reserve Bourbon Best Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Best Wheated Bourbon Best Barrel-Proof Bourbon Why You Should Trust Us All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.