The 13 Best Bourbons for Kentucky Derby Season 2016

The Kentucky Derby may be the most exciting two minutes in sports and has lots of great fashion, but to me it’s really just an annual excuse to try new bourbons. Although, admittedly, I gallop through a fair amount all year long.

And I’m not alone. According to DISCUS (the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States), the demand for bourbon and Tennessee whiskey eclipsed other spirits in 2015, generating $2.9 billion in revenue. Just to add a visual to that number, that means a whopping 20 million nine-liter cases were sold.

Michael Neff—the beverage director at New York’s Holiday Cocktail Lounge—counts Parker’s Heritage, Jim Beam Black, and Wild Turkey 101 as some of his top picks.

To prepare for the 142nd Run for the Roses, I reached out to Michael Neff, master mixologist and beverage director at New York’s Holiday Cocktail Lounge (who also happens to be concocting a special cocktail called HCLOTB—which stands for Holiday Cocktail Lounge Off Track Betting—for the occasion).

And his 2016 bourbon handicapping didn’t disappoint: "A list like this is very difficult to put together—considering that rare, unusual, and extinct bottling exist and completely throw off the curve," Neff says. "In light of this, I’ll reserve my choices to those that are widely available. For the most part."

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Smooth Ambler Old Scout

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"Because John Little is a talented man and learned quickly to make good juice."

It’s an accessibly delicious low-proof bourbon—for not a lot of money."

Old Grand Dad Bonded

"Because good bourbon is often cheap bourbon. And it’s bonded."

Jim Beam Black

"The big distilleries became big because they made really good products."

Wild Turkey 101

"It’s almost the definition of what bourbon should taste like. Even the most sophisticated of palates choose this whiskey as their favorite in blind tastings."

High West American Prairie Reserve

"Building a brand is as important as making a good whiskey. And they made it for a cause."

Rip Van Winkle 10-Year

"Even though ‘Pappy’ had become code for overly-priced whiskies, the youngest one still tastes the best."

Weller Special Reserve

"It’s delicious. And it’s always been delicious. And it happens to be wheated."

Hudson Baby Bourbon

"Because Ralph and Gable Erenzo helped shepherd this in…the modern age of American distilling."

Maker’s Mark

"It still makes my favorite old fashioned."

Parker’s Heritage

"Each year features a new release. And we get to explore the effects of aging, mash bill, and barrels."

Elijah Craig 12

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