The Best Bourbon Made In Every State

Bourbon is a uniquely American creation, a whiskey variant that exists under very specific guidelines. That means any distillery willing to take the challenge has to adhere to the template, using the proper ingredients combined and distilled in the right manner. Similar to each state's unique craft beers, beverage connoisseurs can also find distinctive bourbons made by distillers in every state in the U.S. With unique distilling methods and a vast range of environments to consider, every state's bourbon provides new aspects to broaden the spectrum.

We tracked down the best bourbon made in every state from some of the country's best distilleries, to give local visitors a chance to taste the supreme quality being produced throughout the country. From the lush island climate of Hawaii to the dry desert regions of the Southwest and at every environment in between, these bourbons represent the finest bottled creations you can indulge in.

Alabama has a top-notch bourbon courtesy of Dettling 1867, a Swiss distillery in operation since the year 1867 that allowed Big Escambia Spirits in Atmore to license the name. Distiller Seth Dettling takes the artisan path to create the first bourbon crafted in Alabama since Prohibition. Critics like Fred Minnick have been wowed at how high quality Dettling 1867 is, both in small-batch and cask-strength versions.

dettling1867.com

(251) 368-4018

1185 Goat Feathers Lane, Atmore, AL 36502

Recipients of a 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition award for its small-batch whiskey, Anchorage Distillery is also the crafter of a top-shelf bourbon that comes in batches so limited, they're doled out only in the onsite tasting room and at Brown Jug liquor stores in the Anchorage area. The distillery's mixologists can turn it into cocktails like a Gold Mint Trail or a bourbon and cardamom to capitalize on its versatility.

anchoragedistillery.com

(907) 561-2100

6310 A St, Anchorage, AK 99518

Arizona Straight Bourbon Whiskey made by Elgin Distillery in Southern Arizona is a straight bourbon kept in Ozark American white oak barrels for eight years or more, using what the distillery calls its "Magic Water." The result is a bottle that's earned top industry awards. Customers proclaim it the best-ever bourbon, one that justifies the relatively high price point.

elginwd.com

(520) 369-3421

473 Elgin Road, Elgin, AZ 85611

Local Little Rock grains are put through their paces at Rock Town Distillery to become a first-class Arkansas-based bourbon. Even the barrels are charred locally at in-state Gibb Brothers Cooperage. In the end, you have a multi-award-winning bourbon that's taken home gold medals four times in four years — quite a haul for Arkansas' first-ever bourbon.

rocktowndistillery.com

(501) 907-5244

1201 Main St, Little Rock, AR 72202

Cask & Coast is a San Diego-based online distillery that churns out California's finest version of a 4-grain blended bourbon whiskey, distilled in the Midwest before being blended and finished in California coastal wine country barrels. Honors include a platinum award from the American Spirits Council of Tasters and gold medals from world spirit competitions. Samplers take note of the cherry and vanilla bouquet in this creation, as well as hints of cinnamon and maple, with a peppery kick.

caskandcoast.com

Combine a bourbon sour mash made with a copper-pot distilling process and add the char of American White Oak casks and you get 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey, a small-batch spirit filled with Rocky Mountain spark. With a 2019 American Whiskey Master award and a double gold from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this spicy-sweet blend is top-shelf. For reviewers, 291 is an intriguing mix unlike other bourbons. Everything from tropical fruits and caramel to dark chocolate and spice forge a one-of-a-kind body.

distillery291.com

(719) 323-8010

4242 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80907

As a New York International Spirits Competition gold-medal winner three years in a row (2021 through 2023), Litchfield Distillery's 6-year aged double-barreled bourbon gets a boost of flavor from a second go after being bottle-proofed. It's added back into the barrel to pick up char and deepen the flavor, resulting in a mix of crème brûlée popcorn, and even almond-rich marzipan tasting notes. Reviewers are dazzled by how unique the tasting experience of this bottle is.

litchfielddistillery.com

(860) 361-6503

569 Bantam Road, Litchfield, CT 06759

With Painted Stave bourbon, Delaware lays claim to a first-rate state-distilled whiskey impressive enough to take the gold medal at the 2025 ADI International Spirits Competition. Six years of barreling for maximum char infuses smokiness into a bourbon rife with cookie, caramel, and spice tasting notes. Customers who leave reviews on the company website call it a bottle to have on hand at all times.

paintedstavedistilling.com

(302) 653-6834

‌106 W Commerce St, Smyrna, DE 19977

Of the award-winning bourbons featured at the ADI-honored St. Augustine Distillery in Florida, the Saint has picked up the most accolades — one gold and two double gold from the Fifty Best, and three triple gold from the MicroLiquor Spirit Awards, plus a Drammie Award. This bourbon rests in barrels that once held Old Fashioned mix, bestowing the sugary citrus and spice blend into the finished liquor.

staugustinedistillery.com

(904) 825-4962

112 Riberia St, St. Augustine, Florida 32084

The single barrel bourbon from Georgia's Legends Distillery boasts gold and double platinum awards, just a few of the distillery's 40-plus honors. Tasters can look forward to a combination of citrus, spice, and honey sweetness on the front end, with a toasted rye finish-up. Praise for the full body and thoughtfulness that accompanies the sipping moments comes from U.S.A. Spirits Ratings, along with a score of 91 out of 100.

legendsdistillery.us

(470) 695-7926

210 Industrial Park Drive, Suite A, Cumming, GA 30040

Hawaii's own Ko'olau Distillery conjures up Old Pali Road Private Reserve Straight Bourbon, an award-winning spirit with a fruity-nutty mashup of tasting notes that helped it take silver at the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards. Artesian water from O'ahu provides a pure liquid for the distilling process. Those who've tasted it for themselves call out the caramel corn essence with a spicy spirit.

Koolaudistillery.com

(808) 261-0685

905 Kapaa Quarry Place, Kailua, HI 96734

Grand Teton Distillery perked up the palates of spirit hounds when it released its 8-year Private Stock Straight Bourbon in 2022. Though the release was limited, the company's site still lists bottles for aficionados to get their hands on. Fans of smoky campfire vanilla and spice will appreciate what this Idaho-based bourbon is serving up; the mountain water used to proof the finished product is a plus.

grandtetondistillery.com

(208) 354-7263

1755 ID-33, Driggs, ID 83422

When environmental responsibility is on your tasting menu, Koval Distillery in Illinois keeps its single barrel bourbon as pristine as possible. Using millet as a gluten-free grain, the spirit-maker opts for a more regenerative-friendly crop for the utmost in environmentally friendly distilling. With a heady mix of candy sweetness and peppery spiciness — a flavor profile reviewers refer to as juicy and fun — it's no wonder this bottle has taken home five top awards over the years.

koval-distillery.com

(312) 878-7988

4241 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Taking a double gold award with a score of 99 points in the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition puts the Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon from Starlight Distillery out in front of the spirit-maker's other award-winning bourbon selections. The mix of American oak and Mizunara oak barrels from Japan infuses this whiskey with the sophistication that earns the hardware. Breaking Bourbon says this Starlight selection is worth the pricey spend.

starlightdistillery.com

(812) 923-9463

19816 Huber Road, Borden, IN 47106

Cedar Ridge Distillery in Iowa's corn country makes the cut as the state's premium bourbon producer. The Double Barrel version in particular has amassed quite a collection of platinum, gold, and bronze awards. Spirit specialists John Barleycorn Society praise the Caribbean-forward blend of pineapple and grapefruit, tempered with kitchen spices, while customers point out the warming sensation of the finish. It's a prime pick for lovers of great bourbon under $100.

cedarridgedistillery.com

(319) 857-4300

1441 Marak Road, Swisher, IA 52338

Dodge City is the site of Boot Hill Distillery and Kansas' gold- and silver-medal Wabash Reserve bourbon, the pride of Kansas State University alumni who still work the distillery. The historic land on which the grain grows comes courtesy of the first-ever land-grant university status held by K-State. U.S. Spirit Ratings hoisted it up with 92 points and kind words for the smooth whiskey body, while complementing its fruit and maple tasting notes.

boothilldistillery.com

(620) 371-6309

501 W Spruce St, Dodge City, KS 67801

In the heart of bourbon country, Kentucky's up-and-coming bourbon maker New Riff Distilling has come up with a Kentucky Straight bourbon that took top honors at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. Heavy on the rye and forward with the spices, this spirit benefits from New Riff's willingness to try out different methods and grain options to create a top-shelf spirit.

newriffdistilling.com

(859) 261-7433

24 Distillery Way, Newport, KY 41073

Whiskey Tree has garnered a platinum medal and several silver awards for its high rye bourbon creation. The description reads like a bakery menu; notes of applesauce, biscuits, and cookies make this blend sound like a satisfying dessert of a spirit. Redditors fill the screen with glowing praise for this beginner-friendly bottle's multi-layered flavors and overall balance.

seventhreedistilling.com

(504) 265-8545

301 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112

Big Horn bourbon from Willie's Distillery is Montana's big sky contribution to the U.S. bourbon scavenger hunt. With gold, silver, and bronze medals hung around its neck, this blend is a true Olympian in the spirit world. Redditors appreciate how easy Big Horn is to drink, with a smoky cinnamon spice and a brown sugar sweetness.

williesdistillery.com

(406) 682-4117

312 E Main St, Ennis, MT 59729

Taking the award for best straight bourbon at the 2025 American Spirit Council of Tasters for its Old Soul Tintype bourbon gives Cathead Distillery a feather in its cap. As the first legal distillery in Mississippi, this spirited liquor producer has made up for lost time with a bourbon that conjures up chocolaty-marshmallow and graham cracker s'mores essences made tangy with green apple notes.

catheaddistillery.com

(601) 667-3038

422 S Farish St, Jackson, MS 39201

Wiggly Bridge Distillery may hold claim to Maine's most fun distiller name, but it also has the honor of creating the state's top-selling bourbon. The small batch version has garnered awards from the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) and the Washington Cup Spirits Competition over the years. With its noteworthy caramel, cinnamon, and honey tasting notes, reviewers have compared it to apple pie, with hints of Dr Pepper's fruity-spicy blend.

wigglybridgedistillery.com

(207) 363 -9322

441 US Route 1, York, ME 03909

With Bloody Butcher bourbon, Maryland's own Pathfinder Farms became the 2025 Best of State and was awarded the Best Farmer Distiller Bourbon award, both from the ACSA's Heartland Whiskey Competition. The secret lies in family farm-grown corn and Appalachian Mountain spring water; this combination transforms into a bourbon with corn sweetness and a spicy bite.

pathfinder.farm

(301) 799-4455

5515 Mount Carmel Church Road, Keedysville, MD

The American straight bourbon from GlenPharmer in Massachusetts has taken home a double gold award from the American Distilling Institute's 2026 competition, a feather in the cap of this thoughtful grain-to-glass spirit producer. The smoothness has been deemed an impressive feat by online samplers, with a gentle finish that's as satisfying when sipped.

glenpharmer.com

(508) 528-4000

860 W Central St, Franklin, MA 02038

High-caliber bourbon in Michigan comes straight from Joseph A. Magnus, a distiller with exacting standards and a tradition of producing some of the state's finest spirits. A dozen awards, including America's Best Barrel Finished Whiskey, attest to the quality this sort of precision brings about. Breaking Bourbon describes the buttercream bouquet, vanilla and cherry tasting notes, and peppercorn and leather finish.

josephmagnus.com

(616) 796-8274

184 120th Ave, Holland, MI 49424

At J. Carver Distillery, the concept of top-shelf spirits comes to life, captured in bottles of its Brickyard straight bourbon. Corn, barley, and homegrown Minnesota wheat blend to provide a silky mouthfeel, while toasty pear and milk chocolate merge with baking spices for a combination of tastes and aromas thoughtful enough to tempt the most discerning palate.

jcarverdistillery.com

(952) 442-2433

1320 Mill Lane, Waconia, MN 55387

Rieger straight bourbon is the signature selection from J. Rieger & Co., a craft distiller with a trophy case that speaks of its skill with bourbon culture. This bottle has taken best in category and a double platinum at the ASCOT 2025 Awards, as well as a gold at the New Orleans Spirit Competition in 2024. With three grains, a two-step method for distilling, and a the pedigree of a pre-Prohibition distillery that reopened in 2014, there's spirit to spare in this creation.

jriegerco.com

(816) 702-7800

2700 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64130

Try a glass of Five Drops from Montana's Wildrye Distillery, and you'll understand why this bottle has attracted honors from American Craft Spirit's Heartland competition. Wildrye overall has become the most-awarded distillery in Montana, making this bourbon an even more compelling selection. Sweetness abounds on both the nose and tongue, with plenty of rye brightness to satisfy fans of grain-forward flavors. 

wildryedistilling.com

(406) 577-2288

111 E Oak St, Suite 1E, Bozeman, MT 59715

It's a circus of exciting flavors in Sideshow Spirits' double barrel bourbon, a signature offering from Lincoln's sole legal distillery. With silver medals from both the 2024 ADI International Spirits Competition and the New York World Spirits Competition, the rich, dessert-like flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak showed the liquor world that these alcohol artisans aren't clowning around. Having a second rest in an American oak barrel helps bring the sugars to bear, and enriches the hue.

sideshowspirits.com

(531) 500-3036

1630 P St, Lincoln, NE 68508

Sip the best bourbon in the silver state via Nevada H&C Distilling Co. by cracking open a bottle of Smoke Wagon Small Batch bourbon. This small-batch creation has taken home gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits competition across multiple years. Fruit, spices, and a creamy texture gather in the glass, providing what reviewers consider perilously primo for a moderately-priced bottle with a bodacious flavor composition.

smokewagon.com

(702) 907-5004

Award-winning Copper Cannon Distillery conjures up spirit magic in Fort No. 1 straight bourbon, giving New Hampshire an entry in the American-made bourbon market. It's a limited batch that can only be purchased at the company's West Chester distillery, but the promise of a rye-forward personality in a spirit that lets the barrel do the heavy lifting is enticing. Whether sipped or stirred into a tasty tipple, New Hampshire's first-rate bourbon delivers.

coppercannon.com

(603) 256-6009

2 Lyman Way, Chesterfield, NH 03466

As the first New Jersey-made bourbon to take double gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Tracks and Rails 5 Grain bourbon gives Claremont Distillery an edge over the other spirit makers in the state. A blend of oats, malted barley, corn, wheat, and rye completes the five-grain set in this bottle's name, while the 5-year aging process imparts evenness and nuance.

claremontdistillery.com

(973) 566-1334

3619 NJ-94, Hamburg, NJ 07419

The Southwest gets a championship bourbon thanks to Safe House Distilling and its Prophet Share Single Barrel straight bourbon. Winning a silver medal at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards says that this desert-formed grain-to-glass elixir has captured magic under the cork. Even the packaging has been deemed award-worthy, a nod to the attention to detail Safe House takes at every step of the process.

safehousedistilling.com

(505) 318-0150

616 Gold Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

The straight bourbon made by Great Jones Distilling Co. gives New York state a superior spirit that took home hardware from the World Whiskies Awards in both 2024 and 2025. Reviewers appreciate the brown sugar and black pepper in the bouquet. As for the distillery itself, it's been a runner-up in USA Today's reader favorites for craft spirits in 2025, an apt honor for an enterprise that serves as the first post-Prohibition distillery to set up operation in Manhattan.

greatjonesdistillingco.com

(332) 910-9880

One of the most decorated bottles in any state, North Carolina's Soldier's Cut straight bourbon from Weldon Mills Distilling has received a whopping 50 awards in various competitions, with platinum and gold medals shining up the collection. If that doesn't draw your attention, maybe descriptions of this liquor's smooth, non-syrup texture and spice-infused pop at the tail end will entice you.

weldonmills.com

(252) 220-4235

100 Rockfish Dr, Weldon, NC 27890

As the first bourbon in North Dakota, Crooked Furrow is a standout spirit for artisan producer Proof Artisan Distillers. With both a younger, sprier 4-year and an older, more complex 7-year version of Crooked Furrow, there are variants for a range of palates to enjoy. The 4-year has won a silver medal from U.S.A. Spirit Ratings, with mention made of the coffee and walnut aromas and caramel and citrus on the taste buds.

proofdistillers.com

(701) 639-4600

414 4th Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102

With its tasting notes of cornbread and cherry pie crust and a finish that reminds bourbon fans of caramel and vanilla, Hayner Distilling's straight bourbon blend marries tradition with contemporary soul for a spirit that feels well-considered. This mix has resulted in multiple awards, including a gold medal at the 2024 John Barleycorn Awards, and silvers at the 2021 New York and 2022 San Francisco World Spirit Awards. Two different blends offer a range of grain compositions, creating a pair of bottles that demand comparison.

haynerdistilling.com

937-553-3673

619 Lincoln Ave, Troy, Ohio 45373

Pecan wood used to finish Land Run Distillery's straight bourbon could well be the secret ingredient that helped this Oklahoma spirit maker become worthy of a 2025 Daring Distiller award. Word from those in the know say the pecan imparts a dry warmth that keeps the finish liquid from becoming too sweet — just the finesse needed for a composition that brings a s'mores-like aroma and caramel-cinnamon tasting notes.

landrundistillery.com

(580) 352-3424

112 N Main St, Newkirk, OK 74647

Ransom Spirits achieves a heady balance in its bourbon by using a unique blend of captured rainwater and a four-grain mix, cradled in toasted American oak barrels. That's how it came to hold a score of 94 from the 2025 Bartender Awards, and attain a silver medal from U.S.A. Spirit Ratings. Drinkers adore the citrus and fruitcake-like tasting notes, and reviews that call out soothing mouthfeel and spicy kick affirm the stellar quality and high enjoyment factor captured beneath the cap.

ransomspirits.com

(503) 538-3199

With Wigle Reserve Pennsylvania Straight Bourbon from Wigle Whiskey, a true pinnacle of bourbon-making has been reached. The winner of a bronze medal at the 2025 American Craft Spirits Association Awards confirmed that Pennsylvania can bourbon with the best of them. How else could this bottle warrant a high toast from critics for its pumpkin spice and cherry bouquet, with a trail of cinnamon candy bringing up the back end?

wiglewhiskey.com

(412) 224-2827

2401 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

More than just a luxurious name, Blue Velvet straight bourbon from Rhode Island's ISCO Spirits also fills your glass with an award-winning spirit that uses two forms of blue corn as a base, both of which are sustainably farmed. With a 2024 San Francisco Spirit Competition medal pinned to its label, this sprightly spirit has been regaled for its fruit, spices, and cinnamon-clove warmth at the end.

iscospirits.com

(401) 626-4696

1 Sims Avenue, Suite 103, Providence, RI 02909

Indulge in a bottle of Charleston Distilling Vesey's Bourbon and you'll be sipping one of South Carolina's most celebrated liquors. A sky-high score of 93 earned this pick a gold medal at the 2026 London Spirits Competition, making Vesey's an international success. With a call-out by Whiskey Advocate for essences of berries, coconut, and deep chocolate preceding a warm finish, Vesey's appears to pull out all the stops.

charlestondistilling.com

(843) 718-1446

3548 Meeks Farm Road, Johns Island, SC 29455

A name like Gordon W Legacy Series Edition III Bourbon speaks of the careful craftsmanship BlackFork Farms Distillery undertakes when making its smoky spirit. Shining reviews from Breaking Bourbon love the deluxe layering in this bottle, enhanced by the use of a mix of Mongolian and French barrels, in addition to traditional American. Their description of cola, cocoa, and pecan notes makes it sound like a complex treat with a sweet kick.

blackforkfarms.com

(605) 696-3104

Peg Leg Porker Spirits make a Tennessee straight bourbon that captured a platinum prize at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. That fresh win for a pour that offers apples, cinnamon, and  caramel — a veritable dessert tray's worth of tasting notes — is a prime example of how seriously the Nashville distillery takes its bourbon-making enterprise.

peglegporkerspirits.com

(615) 583-7465

2700 Eugenia Ave, Nashville, TN, 37211

Southern bourbon doesn't get much better than the small-batch version from Garrison Brothers Distillery. The heated finish following a fruit, floral and spice flavor combination has helped the mix rack up 10 awards between 2024 and 2026. As for the overall personality, reviewer Artfully Bourbon makes it clear that this bourbon isn't imitating Kentucky's version; it offers Texas-style spirit through and through.

garrisonbros.com

(512) 381-3155

1827 Hye-Albert Road, Hye, TX 78635

Don't let the sweet name Sugar House bourbon fool you into thinking this distillery pulls its punches. This spirit earned a gold medal at The Fifty Best in 2020, a silver from the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2019, and a Best of Category and a gold medal from the American Distilling Institute 2016. This bourbon snaps with a bitter bite at the beginning that resolves into caramel, and even Twizzler, notes.

sugarhousedistillery.net

(801) 726-0403

2212 S West Temple Unit 14, Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Smuggler's Notch straight bourbon is a Vermont specialty, with a 2019 gold medal from San Francisco World Spirits Competition for the distillery to show off. The full-bodied composition of this smooth spirit brings vanilla, chocolate, and caramel tasting notes to bear. Customers who performed their own blind taste test among 10 bottles from various distilleries chose this one as the top pick.

smugglersnotchdistillery.com

(802) 760-0619

5087 Vermont Route 15, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

The bourbons made by A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Virginia have all been deemed award-worthy at competitions around the U.S., but its John J. Bowman single barrel has taken home the most — 13 various medals during its lifetime, including a 2017 honor as World's Best Bourbon from Whiskey Magazine. Experts call out a blend of fruits, spices, and baking elements that reveal themselves as the tasting process shifts from sipping to chewing.

asmithbowman.com

(540) 373-4555

1 Bowman Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22408

MannCave Distillery has come up with a cask strength West Virginia bourbon supreme enough to garner a double gold at San Francisco World Spirits Competition — and a gold at the SIP Awards in 2024. The 4-year aging process results in an ultra-smooth sipper that imparts added depth, while leaving the vanilla and honey essences intact.

manncave.com

(681) 533-1001

851 Left Millstone Road, Weston, WV 26452

A distillery doesn't take home 11 gold, double gold, and best of awards in a nine-year span for its bourbon, unless the pour is something special. Wisconsin's Patton Road Reserve Cask Strength bourbon from J. Henry & Sons Distillery is such a spirit, conjuring exotic elements like coconut and allspice with a mix of caramel pudding and dark chocolate. Reviewers consider it a creamy, sweet-and-spicy swirl in your glass.

jhenryandsons.com

(608) 846-4116

7794 Patton Road, Dane, WI 53529

Award-winning Pine Bluffs Distilling offers a wheated bourbon that brings together spirits from a blend of wheat, barley, and corn grown in Wyoming. The self-proclaimed "farm-to-flask" spirit crafter essentially bottles what distiller Chad Brown considers to be whiskey terroir — the equivalent of what the regional environment imparts to wine — but for grain-based spirits.

pinebluffsdistilling.com

(307) 245-3000

115 Bourbon St, Pine Bluffs, WY 82082

The search for each state's best bourbon was like a scavenger hunt throughout the country's most distinctive craft distillers. We began by searching for award-winning bourbons, and sifted through creations made by some of the proudest and most inventive beverage artisans who had been well-honored for their ingenuity in the distilling arts.

Once we uncovered each state's award-worthy bourbons, we looked for selections that had garnered the most accolades and highest prize levels. Then, we dug into reviews to learn how critics and spirit specialists felt about the body, bouquet, and tasting notes.

We chose thoughtful creations with backstories that made them one-of-a-kind finds for the discerning bourbon lover. This gave us winning options for all 50 states.