10 Best Bourbons From Different States: An American Bourbon Road Trip

Kentucky may be bourbon country. However, some of the best bourbons from different states are gaining recognition across the country.

But it is not the only place making damn good bourbon.

From the hard Texas heat to Washington grain country, from a Nevada ranch to a Brooklyn distillery, American whiskey makers are proving that great bourbon is no longer limited to one state, one warehouse style, or one old-school recipe.

Kentucky still deserves its place at the top of the bourbon conversation. It has the history, legendary distilleries, limestone water, and deep bench of bottles that built the category.

But bourbon is American by definition.

That means there is a lot more territory to explore.

This is not a list of the only bourbons worth drinking. It is a bourbon road trip: ten states, ten bottles, and ten reasons to pour something new.

Whether you are building a better home bar, looking for a bourbon gift, or just tired of drinking the same bottle every Friday night, these are some of the best bourbons from different states worth tracking down.

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What Makes a Whiskey Bourbon?

Before we hit the road, let’s clear up one important thing:

Bourbon does not have to be made in Kentucky.

To legally be called bourbon, a whiskey must be made in the United States, contain at least 51% corn in its mash bill, be aged in new charred oak containers, enter the container at no more than 125 proof, and be bottled at 80 proof or higher.

That means Texas bourbon, Nevada bourbon, Washington bourbon, Indiana bourbon, and New York bourbon can all be the real deal.

Kentucky did not invent the rules of good bourbon.

It just spent a long time getting really damn good at them.

For a deeper breakdown of how to taste what is actually in your glass, read my guide on how to taste bourbon like a pro.

Quick Look: The Best Bourbons From Different States

State	Bourbon	Best For
Kentucky	Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style	Bold classic bourbon drinkers
Tennessee	Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey	Smooth history-rich sipping
Texas	Garrison Brothers Small Batch	Big oak and steak-night pours
Indiana	Starlight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon	Value-minded bourbon fans
Washington	Woodinville Straight Bourbon	Rich, balanced everyday sipping
Colorado	Woody Creek Colorado Straight Bourbon	Craft-bourbon exploration
Nevada	Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon	High-proof bourbon nerds
New York	Kings County Straight Bourbon	Distinctive small-batch whiskey
California	Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon	Easygoing, affordable pours
Utah	High West Bourbon	Spice-forward Western whiskey fans

1. Kentucky: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

Distillery: Old Forester
Proof: 115
Style: Rich, high-proof Kentucky bourbon
Best for: The guy who wants a serious pour without hunting for unicorn bottles

You cannot write a bourbon road-trip article without starting in Kentucky.

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is one of the best high-proof Kentucky bourbons that remains relatively easy to find. It brings dark caramel, cherry, chocolate, spice, toasted oak, and enough proof to remind you that this is not a lawnmower beer in a rocks glass.

This is the bottle for steak night, cigar night, or the kind of Friday when you have earned a quiet chair and nobody needs anything from you.

It is bold, but it is not sloppy. The proof carries flavor instead of just burning your tongue off.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: One of the best “step up from beginner bourbon” bottles in America.

Try it if you like: dark caramel, chocolate, toasted oak, rye spice
Best cigar pairing: A medium-to-full-bodied Nicaraguan cigar with cocoa, cedar, and pepper notes.

Learn more about Old Forester 1920 here:
https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1920-style-prohibition-whisky/

2. Tennessee: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey

Distillery: Uncle Nearest
Proof: 100
Style: Tennessee whiskey with bourbon-drinker appeal
Best for: Smooth sipping with a story behind the bottle

Technically, Uncle Nearest 1856 is Tennessee whiskey rather than bourbon. But if you enjoy bourbon, it belongs in your rotation.

It is named in honor of Nathan “Nearest” Green, the formerly enslaved master distiller who helped teach Jack Daniel the charcoal-mellowing process that became central to Tennessee whiskey.

The bottle is approachable, rich, and built for drinkers who enjoy caramel, vanilla, warm spice, maple, and oak without needing a massive proof point.

This is a strong choice for somebody who usually drinks bourbon but wants to branch out without taking a hard left into something weird.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: A great gift bottle for a bourbon drinker who appreciates history as much as flavor.

Try it if you like: smooth vanilla, toasted oak, baking spice, caramel
Best cigar pairing: Connecticut Broadleaf or a medium-bodied Dominican cigar.

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3. Texas: Garrison Brothers Small Batch

Distillery: Garrison Brothers
Proof: 94
Style: Texas straight bourbon
Best for: Big flavor, grilled meat, and people who think subtle is overrated

Texas does not do small.

Neither does Texas bourbon.

Garrison Brothers Small Batch brings a bigger, more oak-driven profile than many traditional Kentucky bottles. Texas heat pushes whiskey in and out of the barrel aggressively, creating a whiskey that can feel older, darker, and more intense than its age statement might suggest.

Expect fruit, butter, oak, chocolate, espresso, and a full-bodied finish. This is not a shy bourbon. It is not trying to be.

If your idea of a good evening includes ribeye, charcoal, a cigar, and a pour that can stand up to all of it, Garrison Brothers belongs on the list.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: The steak-night bourbon from this lineup.

Try it if you like: toasted oak, espresso, dark chocolate, rich fruit
Best cigar pairing: A full-bodied Texas-style smoke, Nicaraguan puro, or a Maduro with pepper and espresso notes.

Learn more about Garrison Brothers Small Batch here:
https://www.garrisonbros.com/our-babies/small-batch/

4. Indiana: Starlight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

Distillery: Starlight Distillery
Proof: 100
Style: Bottled-in-Bond craft bourbon
Best for: Drinkers who want quality, tradition, and value

Indiana is often discussed because of MGP, the major whiskey producer whose liquid has shown up in countless brands over the years.

But Indiana also has distilleries putting their own name on the bottle—and Starlight Distillery is one worth knowing.

Its Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon is made from sweet mash, aged at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof under Bottled-in-Bond standards. That means you are getting a straight-shooting bourbon with real backbone, built on a traditional production standard that still means something.

Expect a profile that leans soft, sweet, balanced, and easy to enjoy without becoming boring.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: One of the best bottles here for the guy who wants more flavor than an 80-proof basic bourbon but does not need a cask-strength fistfight.

Try it if you like: caramel, honey, vanilla, oak, easy spice
Best cigar pairing: A medium-bodied Connecticut Broadleaf or classic Dominican cigar.

Learn more about Starlight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon here:
https://starlightdistillery.com/bourbons/bottled-in-bond-bourbon-whiskey/

5. Washington: Woodinville Straight Bourbon

Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Company
Proof: 90
Style: Grain-forward, rich Pacific Northwest bourbon
Best for: Balanced sipping and better Old Fashioneds

Washington State may not be the first place you think of when you think bourbon.

That is exactly why you should pay attention.

Woodinville has built a serious reputation by focusing on quality grains, careful distilling, and barrels that deliver rich caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, crème brûlée, and spice.

This is an easy recommendation because it gives you real flavor without being too hot, too oaky, too weird, or too expensive for a regular rotation.

It also makes an excellent Old Fashioned when you want a cocktail that still tastes like bourbon instead of orange candy and sugar water.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: One of the best all-around bottles on this entire list.

Try it if you like: caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, baking spice
Best cigar pairing: A medium-bodied Nicaraguan or a creamy Connecticut Shade cigar.

Learn more about Woodinville Straight Bourbon here:
https://woodinvillewhiskeyco.com/pages/woodinville-straight-bourbon-whiskey

For a proper home-bar recipe, use it in my no-BS Old Fashioned guide.

6. Colorado: Woody Creek Colorado Straight Bourbon

Distillery: Woody Creek Distillers
Style: Colorado craft bourbon
Best for: The drinker looking for a regional bottle with a different point of view

Colorado whiskey has become a legitimate category, not just a gift-shop novelty.

Woody Creek Distillers is known for a grain-to-glass approach and Colorado-grown ingredients. Its bourbon offers a more craft-forward stop on this road trip and gives you a good excuse to get outside your usual shelf of Kentucky labels.

This is the kind of bottle you buy when you are tired of pretending you need another Buffalo Trace product and want to explore something with a real sense of place.

Availability can be more limited than the bigger brands on this list, so treat it as a bottle worth grabbing when you see it.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: A strong “try something different” bottle for an experienced bourbon drinker.

Try it if you like: grain-forward bourbon, oak, spice, dry finishes
Best cigar pairing: A medium-bodied Habano wrapper with cedar and pepper.

7. Nevada: Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon

Distillery: Frey Ranch
Proof: Varies by batch
Style: Farm-to-glass, high-proof Nevada bourbon
Best for: Serious bourbon drinkers who want full flavor

Frey Ranch is one of the most interesting distilleries in American bourbon right now because it grows its own grain on the ranch where it distills and bottles its whiskey.

That is not marketing fluff. That is the kind of control over ingredients most whiskey brands do not have.

Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon is high-proof, full-flavored, and not designed for people who need every pour to be soft and harmless. It delivers caramelized sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cake frosting, orange creamsicle, dried fruit, smoke, and black cherry.

This is a bottle that rewards slowing down.

Add a few drops of water if you want. Nobody is going to revoke your man card.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: The bourbon-nerd pick of the list.

Try it if you like: barrel-proof bourbon, rich dessert flavors, grain character
Best cigar pairing: A full-bodied Maduro or a Nicaraguan cigar with deep cocoa and pepper.

Learn more about Frey Ranch Farm Strength Bourbon here:
https://freyranch.com/farm-strength-uncut-bourbon/

8. New York: Kings County Straight Bourbon

Distillery: Kings County Distillery
Style: New York craft bourbon
Best for: Drinkers who enjoy distinctive small-batch whiskey

Kings County Distillery has helped make Brooklyn a legitimate whiskey destination.

Its Straight Bourbon is not trying to imitate Kentucky. That is a good thing.

It offers a craft-distilling perspective with a more distinctive grain profile and a character that appeals to people who like to find something different rather than simply chase whatever bottle TikTok told them was impossible to get.

This is not necessarily the first bourbon I would hand a complete beginner. But for somebody who already understands the basics and wants a bottle with more personality, it is a solid East Coast stop.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: A bourbon for the guy whose shelf already has the usual suspects.

Try it if you like: craft whiskey, layered grain, baking spice, richer texture
Best cigar pairing: A medium-bodied cigar with natural sweetness and restrained pepper.

9. California: Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon

Distillery: Redwood Empire
Proof: 90
Style: Smooth, approachable California bourbon
Best for: Everyday sipping, cocktails, and sharing with friends

Pipe Dream is a smart bottle to include because it is approachable, useful, and not a “look at me” bourbon.

It is the kind of bottle you can pour neat, use in an Old Fashioned, bring to a backyard cookout, or give to a friend who is moving beyond basic whiskey.

Expect a familiar bourbon profile: caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, toasted oak, and a soft enough finish that it does not punish newer drinkers.

This is not the biggest, rarest, oldest, or most expensive bottle in the room.

That is exactly why it works.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: The everyday workhorse of this list.

Try it if you like: classic caramel-and-vanilla bourbon, easy sipping, cocktails
Best cigar pairing: A mild-to-medium Connecticut cigar or an easygoing Habano.

10. Utah: High West Bourbon

Distillery: High West
Proof: Varies by release
Style: Spice-forward Western bourbon
Best for: Drinkers who like rye influence and a more adventurous profile

High West has become one of the best-known American whiskey names outside Kentucky, and for good reason.

Its bourbon expressions often bring more spice and edge than the softer, sweeter side of traditional bourbon. That makes High West a good choice for the bourbon drinker who likes rye, enjoys Manhattan-style cocktails, or wants a pour with more bite.

It is also a great reminder that bourbon does not have to taste exactly like the Kentucky bottles you started with.

America is big. Bourbon should be too.

Bathrobe Patriot verdict: The Western whiskey pick for people who want spice, complexity, and something a little different.

Try it if you like: rye spice, cinnamon, orange peel, oak, dry finishes
Best cigar pairing: A spicy Nicaraguan cigar or a Habano wrapper with cedar and black pepper.

Learn more about High West bourbon here:
https://highwest.com/collections/bourbon

Which Bourbon Should You Buy First?

Not everybody needs to buy ten bottles at once. Your bank account has been through enough.

Here is where I would start:

Best Bourbon for Beginners

Woodinville Straight Bourbon

It is balanced, flavorful, approachable, and easy to enjoy neat, on ice, or in an Old Fashioned.

Best Bourbon for a Steak Night

Garrison Brothers Small Batch

Texas heat, deep oak, chocolate, espresso, and a rich mouthfeel make it a natural match for a grilled ribeye.

Best High-Proof Bourbon

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon

This is the choice for people who want bold flavor, big proof, and a bottle that takes its job seriously.

Best Value-Style Bourbon

Starlight Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

A 100-proof Bottled-in-Bond release is usually a smart place to start when you want structure, authenticity, and more flavor per ounce.

Best Bourbon for Cocktails

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream or Woodinville Straight Bourbon

Both have enough character to stand up in a cocktail without making you feel like you poured $80 into sugar and bitters.

For more budget-friendly bottles, check out the best bourbons under $40.

Can Bourbon Really Taste Different From State to State?

Yes—but not because a state magically makes a whiskey good.

The biggest factors are still the mash bill, yeast, fermentation, distillation, barrel char, warehouse conditions, age, proof, and blending.

But geography matters because climate affects barrel aging.

Texas heat can create rapid wood interaction and bold oak flavor. Cooler climates may produce a slower maturation curve. Local grain choices, water sources, and distilling styles can also influence the final bottle.

That is why exploring bourbon by state is worth doing.

You are not just collecting labels.

You are learning what you actually like.

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Final Thoughts: Kentucky Started the Party, But America Joined In

Kentucky will always be bourbon royalty.

Nobody is trying to take that crown away.

But great bourbon is being made across America, and the best bourbon drinkers are not afraid to look past the same five familiar labels.

Try a Texas bourbon when you want bold oak and big flavor. Try Nevada when you want farm-to-glass character. Try Washington when you want balance. Try Indiana when you want Bottled-in-Bond value. Try Kentucky when you want the classic benchmark.

Then pour it slowly.

Put your phone down.

Light a good cigar if that is your thing.

And remember: the best bourbon is not always the rarest bottle on the shelf.

It is the one you actually enjoy drinking.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bourbons From Different States

Does bourbon have to be made in Kentucky?

No. Bourbon must be made in the United States, but it can be produced in any state as long as it meets federal bourbon production rules.

What state makes the best bourbon besides Kentucky?

Texas, Indiana, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, California, and Utah all produce excellent bourbon and bourbon-adjacent American whiskey. The best one depends on whether you prefer sweeter, oakier, smoother, spicier, or higher-proof whiskey.

Is Texas bourbon different from Kentucky bourbon?

Often, yes. Texas heat can speed up barrel interaction, creating bourbon that tastes oakier, darker, and more intense at a younger age than whiskey aged in a cooler climate.

What is the best bourbon for someone new to bourbon?

Woodinville Straight Bourbon and Redwood Empire Pipe Dream are both approachable options with classic caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors.

What bourbon goes best with cigars?

For bold cigars, try Old Forester 1920, Garrison Brothers Small Batch, or Frey Ranch Farm Strength. For milder cigars, Woodinville and Redwood Empire are easier matches.

For more pairing help, read The Bathrobe Patriot method for pairing cigars with bourbon.