As I look back at the bourbon year of 2021 there were several excellent new and annual releases, yet one overwhelming issue; the availability of these releases without having to pay secondary market costs. I will not make this blog post in not a rant on secondary market costs, that might be a future post, but it still must be mentioned as this list might have looked different if I had been able to find a few more bottles at or near MSRP.

So what is my criteria for this years top 5 bottles? That is pretty easy, the bottle should either be a 2021 release or purchased for the first time in 2021 and secondly, I obviously had to enjoy the bottle; that is it. Please keep in mind that this list is purely my personal opinion and a list such as this will differ from person to person. This list is meant to perhaps entice the reader to maybe try a new bottle; that is if you can find it at a decent price. With that said, here are my top 5 bottles of 2021:

• Lagavulin 11 Year Old Offerman Edition Finished in Guinness Casks (Lagavulin Distillery) MSRP $90/NoCo Cost $79
• Heaven’s Door Redbreast: Master Blenders’ Edition (Sourced from Undisclosed Distillery) MSRP $100/NoCo Cost $129
• Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall 2021 (Old Fitzgerald Distillery) MSRP $110/NoCo Cost $159
• Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon (G. Remus Distilling Co.) MSRP $90/NoCo Cost $129
• Bomberger’s Declaration- Batch#21E1350 (Michter’s Distillery) MSRP $100/NoCo Cost $200

I would also like to mention a few bottles which have made other reviewers’ top lists that I was unable to get my hands on in 2021. Although there were several bottles I missed tasting in 2021, these bottles are the ones that I am most disappointed about:

• A Midwinter Night’s Dram (High West Distillery) MSRP $99
• Four Roses 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch (Four Roses Distillery) MSRP $150
• Russell’s Reserve 13 Years Old Barrel Proof (Wild Turkey Distillery Co.) MSRP $69

If you are interested in more information or tasting notes on any of these bottles of 2021, please keep an eye out for individual reviews in February and March. As always, please remember drinking bourbon is a personal adventure, so do not be afraid to drink it neat, with ice, or add some water. It’s your bourbon, you bought it, and you should enjoy it how you want to enjoy it!

Cheers! Prost! Sláinte!

Bourbon Bossman®