Best Bourbon Whiskeys: Top Bottles Worth Buying

Finding a great bourbon is easier when you stop chasing hype and start with how you actually plan to drink it. The best bottle for a first-time bourbon buyer is not always the best one for a seasoned neat sipper, and a strong cocktail bourbon is not always the smoothest pour on its own.

Best Suntory Bourbon Whiskeys: A Guide to Finding the Right Bottle

Suntory Global Spirits has one of the most diverse bourbon portfolios, ranging from approachable everyday bottles to bold, high-proof expressions and premium releases.

This guide focuses exclusively on Suntory bourbon brands, helping you find the right bottle depending on your taste, experience and occasion.

Best Suntory Bourbons at a Glance

• Best overall: Maker’s Mark

• Best for beginners: Basil Hayden

• Best smooth bourbon: Jim Beam Black

• Best everyday bourbon: Jim Beam

• Best bold bourbon: Knob Creek

• Best for sipping neat: Baker’s Bourbon

• Best high-proof bourbon: Booker’s Bourbon

• Best elevated Maker’s Mark experience: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

  
  

The short answer: Maker’s Mark is a strong all-around choice if you want an approachable yet flavorful bourbon. Jim Beam is the classic everyday option, while Basil Hayden offers an accessible introduction to a higher-rye style. For something bolder, Knob Creek brings more proof and oak character, while Booker’s is the choice for experienced drinkers looking for an intense, uncut and unfiltered bourbon.

The best option ultimately depends on how you like to drink bourbon and how much intensity you want in the glass.

How to Choose the Right Suntory Bourbon

The easiest way to choose between Suntory’s bourbon brands is to think about flavor, proof and occasion.

If you prefer something softer and sweeter, Maker’s Mark is a natural starting point thanks to its wheated bourbon profile.

If you want something lighter and approachable but with more rye-driven spice, Basil Hayden offers a different direction.

For more intensity, Knob Creek steps things up with a bold 100-proof profile, while Booker’s takes that experience even further with an uncut and unfiltered bourbon.

And if you simply want a versatile bourbon with generations of history behind it, Jim Beam remains the portfolio’s classic entry point.

Best Overall Suntory Bourbon

Maker’s Mark

• Profile: Rich, approachable and flavorful, with the softer character associated with its use of red winter wheat.

• Why it works: Maker’s Mark sits in a useful middle ground. It has enough character for experienced bourbon drinkers while remaining approachable for people who are still discovering the category.

• Best for: Anyone looking for a versatile Suntory bourbon that can work neat, over ice or in classic bourbon cocktails.

• Maker’s Mark has been produced since the 1950s and stands apart from many traditional bourbons because wheat replaces rye as the secondary grain in its recipe. The result is a rounder profile that has helped make it one of Suntory’s most recognizable bourbon brands.

Best Suntory Bourbon for Beginners

Basil Hayden

• Profile: Approachable and refined, combining corn sweetness with the spicy undertones of a high-rye mash bill.

• Why it works: Its profile makes it a useful introduction for drinkers who want to explore bourbon without immediately jumping into the heavier proof and intensity of brands such as Knob Creek or Booker’s.

• Best for: New bourbon drinkers and anyone looking for an easy introduction to a rye-forward style.

• Basil Hayden is part of the Small Batch Bourbon Collection created under Booker Noe and brings a distinctive high-rye identity to the Suntory portfolio.

Best Smooth Suntory Bourbon

Jim Beam Black

• Profile: Full-bodied with smooth caramel and warm oak notes.

• Why it works: Jim Beam Black takes the familiar character of Jim Beam in a richer, more mature direction while remaining approachable.

• Best for: Drinkers looking for a smooth step up from an everyday bourbon without moving immediately into higher-proof territory.

• Its extra aging and 86-proof bottling give Jim Beam Black additional depth while keeping the drinking experience accessible.

Best Everyday Suntory Bourbon

Jim Beam

• Profile: Classic Kentucky bourbon character backed by more than two centuries of Beam family heritage.

• Why it works: Jim Beam is the straightforward, versatile choice in the portfolio. It works across different occasions and offers an accessible entry into the broader James B. Beam family of bourbons.

• Best for: Everyday drinking, casual occasions and classic bourbon cocktails.

• The history of Jim Beam stretches back to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first whiskey. Seven generations of the Beam family have since contributed to the brand’s bourbon-making tradition.

  
  

Best Bold Suntory Bourbon

Knob Creek

1. Profile: Bold, oak-driven and bottled at 100 proof.

2. Why it works: Knob Creek is made for drinkers who want more intensity. Aging in maximum-char barrels helps pull additional flavor from the oak, while the higher proof gives the bourbon enough structure to stand out.

3. Best for: Drinkers ready to move beyond lighter, more approachable bourbons.

4. Knob Creek is part of the Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection and represents the bolder side of Suntory’s Kentucky portfolio.

   
   

Best Premium Suntory Bourbon

Legent

• Profile: A super-premium bourbon designed around innovation and craftsmanship.

• Why it works: Legent offers a different interpretation of bourbon within the Suntory portfolio, making it particularly interesting for drinkers who want to explore beyond traditional expressions.

• Best for: Bourbon drinkers looking for something more distinctive and premium.

• Rather than simply increasing proof or age, Legent takes a more innovative approach to the category, giving it a clear role alongside Suntory’s more traditional Kentucky bourbon brands.

  
  

Best Suntory Bourbon for Sipping Neat

Baker’s Bourbon

• Profile: Toasted nut, fruit and vanilla notes with substantial barrel character.

• Why it works: Baker’s is designed for a more considered sipping experience. Its maturation and production approach allow richer barrel-driven flavors to come through.

• Best for: Drinkers who want to slow down and explore a more developed bourbon neat.

• Named after Baker Beam, the brand connects directly to the Beam family heritage while offering a more premium drinking experience than the portfolio’s everyday expressions.

Best High-Proof Suntory Bourbon

Booker’s Bourbon

• Profile: Powerful, concentrated and full-bodied.

• Why it works: Booker’s is released in batches and bottled uncut and unfiltered, making it one of the most intense expressions in Suntory’s bourbon portfolio.

• Best for: Experienced bourbon drinkers who enjoy high-proof whiskey and want to explore the spirit closer to its barrel-strength character.

• Booker’s takes its name from sixth-generation Master Distiller Booker Noe. What began as whiskey he gave to friends as a holiday gift eventually became one of the defining brands of the Beam Small Batch Bourbon Collection.

  
  

Best Elevated Maker’s Mark Experience

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength

• Profile: A richer and more concentrated expression of the classic Maker’s Mark character.

• Why it works: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength gives drinkers the opportunity to experience the brand closer to the barrel while maintaining the recognizable character of Maker’s Mark.

• Best for: Maker’s Mark fans who want to explore a stronger and more complex expression of the brand.

• Bottled straight from the barrel in small batches, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength typically varies in proof and age from batch to batch. It also serves as the starting point for several of the brand’s innovations.

Which Suntory Bourbon Should You Choose?

A simple way to navigate the portfolio:

• Choose Maker’s Mark if you want something soft, rounded and versatile.

• Choose Basil Hayden if you want an approachable bourbon with a little more rye-driven spice.

• Choose Jim Beam if you want a classic everyday bourbon.

• Choose Jim Beam Black if you want a smoother, richer step up.

• Choose Knob Creek if you want more oak, proof and intensity.

• Choose Legent if you want a more innovative premium bourbon experience.

• Choose Baker’s if you want a richer bourbon for slow sipping.

• Choose Booker’s if you want an intense, high-proof experience.

• Choose Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you already enjoy Maker’s Mark but want to explore the brand at a higher level of intensity.

  
  

FAQs

Which Suntory bourbon is best overall?

Maker’s Mark is one of the most versatile choices in the portfolio. Its wheated recipe creates an approachable profile while still offering enough character for more experienced bourbon drinkers.

Which Suntory bourbon is best for beginners?

Basil Hayden and Maker’s Mark are both approachable starting points, but they offer different experiences. Maker’s Mark leans softer and rounder, while Basil Hayden introduces more rye-driven spice.

Which Suntory bourbon is strongest?

Booker’s is the clear choice for drinkers looking for a high-proof experience. It is released in batches and bottled uncut and unfiltered.

What should I try after Jim Beam?

Jim Beam Black is the most natural step if you want to stay close to the Jim Beam profile while adding more depth. Knob Creek is a stronger move if you are ready for significantly more proof and oak character.

What should I try after Maker’s Mark?

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is a logical progression if you already enjoy the core expression but want more concentration and intensity.

Which Suntory bourbon is best for sipping neat?

Baker’s is particularly well suited to slow sipping thanks to its richer barrel-driven profile. Knob Creek and Booker’s are also strong options for drinkers who prefer more proof.