12 Best Small-Batch Bourbons Under $40

The bourbon industry is experiencing something of a heyday at the moment, but understanding characteristics such as mash bill, cask strength, and bottled-in-bond can be overwhelming to newcomers to the spirit. There is one commonly heard attribute, however, that seems to evoke a certain level of status. The words "small-batch" on a label are a pleasant sight for bourbon connoisseurs, but what does it even mean, and does it really matter?

Well, according to New Riff Distilling, most bourbons fall under the category of "standard barrel," meaning the whiskey follows the universal guidelines of bourbon making. Another classification is "single barrel." These whiskeys are bottled from one individual barrel, as opposed to being blended with other bourbons to achieve consistency, which is what takes place to make a standard barrel bourbon.

Small-batch bourbons combine the best of both worlds. New Riff also says there is no legal definition of small-batch bourbons, but they are typically made through a blend of select few single-barrel bourbons. This reaches the consistency desired in standard barrels while also retaining the richness and robustness of single barrels.

Despite what you may assume, small-batch bourbons are not automatically expensive. Because there is no concrete requirement to be classified as a small-batch bourbon, exorbitant price tags are not necessarily justified. There are plenty of small-batch bourbons that are more than affordable, so here are a few to keep an eye out for to help you broaden your bourbon IQ.

Speaking of iconic bourbons, Old Grand Dad is as well-established a brand as they come. This brand is now owned and produced by the James Beam Distilling Co. but was founded by Basil Hayden Sr., another name synonymous with quality bourbon. What makes Old Grand Dad different from most others is its high percentage of rye grain in the mash bill. This contributes a more spice-forward flavor profile that helps to balance out the sweetness from the corn.

The brand was named "Old Grand Dad" by Hayden's grandson Colonel R.R. Hayden, who was keen to keep his grandfather's original 1882 recipe as unaltered as possible. One superb quality of this small-batch bourbon is that it is bottled in bond. This designation was enacted in Federal Law in the late 1800s as one of the first consumer protection laws, according to Wine Enthusiast. Bourbons aged for at least four years, bottled at exactly 100 proof, and made by one distiller in one distillery in one season can be classified as bottled-in-bond.

This higher proof makes Old Grand Dad one of the best bourbons for cocktails, as its high alcohol content allows it to stand up strong to the other ingredients instead of being overpowered. The best part about Ol Grand Dad, however, is its price point. Although this bourbon is historic, has a higher proof, and is a small batch, it remains just $17 a bottle on average (via Wine-Searcher).

Four Roses' original bourbon is an excellent and straightforward bottle of whiskey, but their small-batch bourbon takes their craft and quality to another level. This small-batch is made through a blend of four different bourbons, all of which with their own original recipe. Each whiskey is selected by the Master Distiller at the peak of its maturation and blended together in a harmonious balance. Four Roses' small-batch is aged between six and seven years and is bottled at an approachable, but robust 90 proof.

Four Roses Small-Batch has been awarded a variety of accolades, including Silver Kentucky Small-Batch Bourbon at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards as well as an overall rating of 94 points in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2021. This rating takes into account every aspect of each bourbon, and Four Roses Small-Batch's rating was broken down into Excellent, Highly Recommended, Finalist, and Great Value. This is a wonderfully tasty bourbon, but it's the "great value" factor that really makes Four Roses Small-Batch well worth a try. According to Wine-Searcher, the average price of a bottle will only cost you $38.

Evan Williams is the very first commercially distilled bourbon in the state of Kentucky, and although their small-batch is not their original bourbon, it is just as classic, delicious, and inexpensive. The name "1783" is a reference to the year Evan Williams opened Kentucky's first distillery. Since then, the brand has become a titan of the industry, now owned by Heaven Hill Distilleries.

This small-batch bourbon is pulled from less than 200 barrels, and is aged for longer than Evan William's other bourbons, but uses the same mash bill. The many barrels that go into each bottle of 1783 combine for a more balanced bourbon than others. Bourbon is often recognized as a sweeter spirit, but Evan Williams's small-batch is semi-sweet with more of a spice presence on the nose and in flavor. The finish is not as elongated as other small-batch bourbons on this list, described as "lean" and "off-dry." It's definitely a unique small batch that brings something new while remaining classic and familiar, so it's well worth a try and a place in any collection.

This small batch has been awarded countless accolades, including Double Gold at the 2020 SIP Awards as well as "Tried & True" in the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The best part is, Evan Williams 1783 only costs $18 a bottle on average, according to Wine-Searcher.

Here is another excellent small-batch bourbon that does not call the Bluegrass State its home. Wyoming Whiskey is one of the youngest bourbon brands on this list, only established in 2006 by Brad and Kate Mead. The Meads are ranchers in Wyoming and decided they wanted to start making bourbon, so they turned to David Defazio and he's been making whiskey ever since. Wyoming Whiskey Small-Batch has been given a 95 rating by the Whiskey Cast as well as Four Stars by the Spirits Journal.

Wyoming Small-Batch is different from most other bourbons not only because of the location it is made, but because the natural resources in that location create different flavors and textures. Of course, the mash bill of Wyoming Small-Batch still has a majority of corn (68%), but the corn and other grain supply in Wyoming as well as the water is taken from the limestone aquifer that is millions of years old and hasn't been touched by sunlight for over 6,000 years. In a trade as simplistic and straightforward as bourbon making, every ingredient counts and Wyoming Small-Batch is putting together the best that its state has to offer.

You would think the specificity of the resources used to make Wyoming Whiskey Small-Batch would cause its price tag to be inflated, but a bottle can still cost you less than $40, per Wine-Searcher.

Penelope Bourbon is even newer than Wyoming Whiskey, founded just four years ago in 2018 by Michael Paladini. The origin of the brand came when Paladini's wife, Kerry, learned they were expecting their first child. Paladini wanted to make a spirit that embodied life's simple milestones, so he set off to create one. As for naming the company, Maldini's daughter, Penelope, was the instant inspiration for the brand. Now, Penelope Bourbon is available in half the United States and in four countries.

Technically, Penelope Bourbon is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky, but the brand is headquartered in Roselle, New Jersey, one of the only widely available bourbons to call the Garden State its home. The brand's small-batch bourbon is part of its Four Grain series, the name meaning each bottle contains a blend of three different mash bills each consisting of corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley. These three whiskeys come together to create a trinity of taste and texture, evoking the classic notes you love in a quality bourbon. This small batch is so classic-tasting, Penelope even recommends it be used in your favorite bourbon cocktails.

Since 2018, Penelope Bourbon has been quick to make a name for itself, being named "Best Buy" by Wine Enthusiast" in addition to the Sip Awards' Consumer's Choice Award in 2020. Although Penelope Four Grain is only sold in 26 states, finding a bottle will only cost an average of $37 (via Wine-Searcher).

Jefferson's Bourbon was founded in 1997 by Trey Zoeller, an eighth-generation whisker distiller whose ancestral grandmother was actually arrested in 1799 for illegal production of the spirit. For the past 25 years, Jefferson's Bourbon has been making exceptional whiskey at a fair price in a variety of forms, including their Very Small Batch.

This whiskey is blended from the brand's base bourbon as well as three selected bourbons of all different mash bills and ages. This blend creates a whiskey that will satisfy both bourbon novices and connoisseurs. It is straightforward, consistent, bold, and smooth and is suitable to fulfill any of your bourbon needs.

Not only is Jefferson's Very Small Batch a great whiskey at a very affordable price of $37, per Wine-Searcher, but this brand is also well worth supporting because of its partnership with OCEARCH that started in 2012. This non-profit works to study and track marine wildlife such as great white sharks, tiger sharks, sea turtles, and more in order to monitor the health status of their ecosystems. Jefferson's Very Small Batch is certainly a bargain at its price, no doubt, but it's always a bonus to support a great cause simultaneously.