If you've spent any time in a bourbon aisle, you've probably noticed two labels that seem to mean the same thing: "barrel proof" and "cask strength." They show up on different bottles, sometimes from the same distillery, and nothing on the label explains why one bottle picked one word and another bottle picked the other.

The 15 best American whiskeys of 2026 actually worth your money — bourbon and rye you can find and afford, from bottled-in-bond bargains to high-rye pours.

Sometimes the best bourbon trips aren't about chasing an allocated bottle. They're about pulling whiskey straight from the barrel, asking questions to the person who made it, and leaving with a greater appreciation for the craft than when you arrived.

Bourbon A whiskey made in the United States from a mash bill containing at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled at no more than 160 proof, entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. No flavoring or coloring may be added. Straight Bourbon Bourbon that has been aged for at least two years and contains no added flavors or colors. If it is less than four years old, an age statement is required. Age Statement T

This bourbon review may come with a small amount of bias, as I originally hail from Virginia and had the pleasure of discovering A. Smith Bowman Distillery nearly seven years ago. While I never had the opportunity to taste Batch #2, I've followed these releases closely and have enjoyed what the distillery has put forward so far.