Can a bourbon be patriotic?
That is absolutely the case during this year’s 250th birthday of the United States.
Here are some of my favorite bourbons to celebrate the special anniversary of the U.S. this year.
1. Freedom Fighter Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Freedom Fighter Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a bold bourbon packaged in a striking collector’s bottle shaped like a raised fist, symbolizing strength, freedom, and patriotic spirit. The uniquely designed bottle features an American flag motif. It comes in a matching display box, making it both a standout addition to any whiskey collection and an impressive gift for bourbon enthusiasts.
Made in Kentucky using traditional methods, this whiskey delivers a smooth yet rich profile with classic notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak.
With its distinctive presentation and authentic Kentucky straight bourbon character, Freedom Fighter combines collectible design with quality American whiskey.
2. America First Bourbon Whiskey
From the remotest dive bars to rooftops in big cities, America First Bourbon brings people together through its spirit of pride and tradition. Whether at a backyard barbecue, a hometown celebration, or a night out on the town, it’s a whiskey for all Americans.
At 94 proof, America First Bourbon is a fine product that is smooth, complex, and powerful. It’s the perfect companion for sipping slowly or celebrating the spirit of freedom, pride, and the United States.
This limited batch bourbon delivers American craftsmanship and patriotism in every glass. Raise a toast to the country you love this July 4 with America First, but it’s too special to only reserve it for the holiday.
3. United States of Bourbon Blend
The United States of Bourbon Blend is a first-of-its-kind, limited-edition whiskey blend created by the award-winning independent bottler Lost Lantern. It is the first American whiskey to feature a blend of straight bourbon whiskies from all 50 states, with one distillery representing each state. Representatives from Lost Lantern visited and vetted every single distillery included in the blend. The name of every component distillery is listed directly on the bottle.
The blend is a celebration of craft distilling across the U.S. in the last two decades. It features everything from coastal distilleries influenced by salty sea air to family-run, grain-to-glass producers. The launch includes two flagship 50-state versions: a 100 Proof bottling and a Cask Strength one.
4. Breckenridge Patriotic Reserve
This special small-batch blend was specially crafted to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The Breckenridge Patriotic Reserve is made from the finest grains from the nation’s heartland. It is a unique whiskey blended in small batches from batches of varying ages, sourced from different batches in the crafter’s barrel house. The bourbon has a bold, spicy, and peppery finish balanced by sweeter notes
Breckenridge Distillery is proud to partner with Warriors & Quiet Waters, a Montana-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering post-9/11 combat veterans and their families. Through immersive experiences in nature and evidence-based programs, the organization fosters growth, discovery, connection, and community, helping participants live more purpose-driven lives. A portion of the proceeds from the Patriotic Reserve will support Warriors & Quiet Waters and their mission to serve those who have sacrificed for our country.
5. Col. E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon
E.H. Taylor is known as the founder of modern whiskey because he built what today is Buffalo Trace Distillery into a major whiskey-making brand. In 1870, Taylor purchased the distillery, naming it O.F.C. (Old Fine Copper) because of his use of copper stills. Two years after the deal, Taylor built himself a major new distillery, and E.H. Taylor is made there today. Buffalo Trace is the oldest distilling site in the country. Whiskey has been warehoused there since 1811, and distilling started in 1858.
Its aroma features toasted oak, dried figs, butterscotch, and subtle vanilla custard. It tastes sweet and spicy with notes of tobacco, dark spices, and citrus. The finish is long and lingering, thoroughly complex with oak and tobacco.
Enjoying a great historic brand is a fitting way to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
6. Eagle Rare 10-Year-Old Bourbon
A bourbon with this name absolutely must be on this list.
Eagle Rare has only been around since the 1970s. It was created by Seagram at the Four Roses Distillery, then called Old Prentice. Its eagle imagery was not aimed at patriots; rather, it was meant to compete with the popular Wild Turkey brand. In 1989, amid whisky’s lean years, it was sold to Sazerac, which acquired Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1992, and Eagle Rare became a part of it. The rest, as they say, is history. Eagle Rare is in high demand, and you are lucky to find a bottle.
The brand has aromas of honey, toffee, leather, and orange peel. The palette is bold yet smooth, featuring hints of candied almonds, rich cocoa, and dried fruit. The finish is lingering and exceptionally smooth.
7. Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon
Jefferson’s was founded by Trey Zoeller and his father, Chet, in 1997. The brand is named after Thomas Jefferson, America’s third president and author of the Declaration of Independence. Chet, who passed away earlier this year, was a lawyer and historian whose eighth-generation grandmother, Marian MacLain, was arrested in 1799 for producing liquors.
Last year, Jefferson’s released a limited-edition Marian McLain bottle, a blend of five bourbons, which is still available in limited quantities. It delivers a creamy, easy-drinking palate loaded with caramel, toffee, baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), and vanilla, ending with a long, robust finish
8. Uncle Nearest Single Barrel
After the Civil War, the enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey, Nearest Green, joined his business as a free man and became the first head distiller at Jack Daniel Distillery. Thanks to the efforts of author and entrepreneur Fawn Weaver, Nearest Green’s legacy lives on at the new Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. It’s a beautiful property that offers a distillery, tours, bars, dining, and other amenities.
The nose of Uncle Nearest Single Barrel features marzipan, caramel, baking spices, and roasted corn. It has honey, vanilla, oak, black pepper, and toasted baking chocolate taste elements. The finish is smooth and velvety with lingering warmth.
9. Yellowstone Special Finishes Rum Cask Finished Bourbon
What could be more American than the iconic Yellowstone National Park? Yellowstone whiskey was launched in 1872, the same year Yellowstone Park was established, and it was named for the national enthusiasm surrounding the park’s opening. Yellowstone Bourbon is relatively small nowadays, but this very underrated whiskey was the largest-selling whiskey in Kentucky during the 1960s and was also popular nationally. Yellowstone does a variety of special releases, and this rum-finished expression is a recent one.
The whiskey has an aroma of fresh-cut hay and poached pear. It tastes of marshmallow, crème brûlée, toffee, and toasted oak, complemented by molasses and baking spices. It has a long finish, characterized by tobacco, clove, and cocoa-seasoned oak.
10. Horse Soldier Bourbon
Horse Soldier Bourbon is an award-winning, veteran-owned whiskey brand founded by U.S. Army Special Forces veterans who were part of the team of Green Berets who rode horseback into Afghanistan shortly after 9/1. The mission is memorialized by the America’s Response Monument at Ground Zero and the film 12 Strong.
Every bottle of Horse Soldier is physically pressed from molds created with steel recovered from the World Trade Center. A horseshoe nail is also cast into the glass of every bottle as a nod to their historic mission.
This straight bourbon whiskey has a high-rye mash bill (65 percent corn, 30 percent rye, 5 percent barley). It is aged three to five years and bottled at 87 proof. It features notes of toasted corn, vanilla, and cinnamon with a mild black pepper spice.
The July 4 holiday falls over a long weekend this year, a perfect opportunity to sample some of these patriotic bourbons.