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2675 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY 14227
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Liquor Blog
Top 5 Whiskey To Try
What Is Triple Sec?
Discover Cointreau: The Story, the Craft, and Cocktail Classics
Macallan Whiskey: A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Innovation
The Ultimate Guide to Spirits and Cocktails
Ultimate Guide to Cincoro Tequila
Tequila Rose: A Comprehensive Guide
Herradura Tequila
All About Tequila Ocho
Everything About Knob Creek Bourbon
Ketel One Vodka Facts
Top Ready-to-Drink Cocktails for Summer 2024
Top 10 Tequilas You Should Try
A Deep Dive into Woodford Reserve Bourbon: Unveiling Its Bestselling Varieties
Discover the Best Irish Whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond
What Is a Black Manhattan?
Whiskey & Orange Juice Cocktails: A Zesty Twist on Classic Spirits
Exploring Top Shelf Whiskey
The Art and Heritage Behind Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic Ready-to-Drink Cocktail
1800 Tequila: Premium Mexican Spirit and Wood Aging Pioneer
How to Choose the Best Bourbon for Any Occasion
Discover Tito's Handmade Vodka
Jim Beam Orange Bourbon Whiskey with Highball Glass
Our Guide to Jagermeister Shot Glass Ice Mold Vap
Everything About Jack Daniels Sbbl Coyhill Sp Rel 6b 700m
Our Guide to Gordon's Pink Gin Strawberry Gin
Wine Blog
Learn About Rose Wine
Fun And Surprising Facts About Red Wine
Whispering Angel Rosé: The Elegance of Provence in Every Sip
Explore the World of Cabernet Sauvignon: A Guide for Wine Lovers
A Beginner's Guide to Wine Appreciation and Wine Tasting
Top Three Champagne and Sparkling Wines for Special Occasions
A Comprehensive Review of 14 Hands Wine: From Merlot to Moscato
Top 5 Chardonnays: Essential Picks for Every Wine Enthusiast
An Introduction to The Prisoner Wine Company
Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairings for Every Occasion
Perfect Food and Wine Pairings for Every Occasion
999 Broadway Chateau Buffalo: Buffalo's Signature Wine Experience
Wine
By Style
Red Wine
White Wine
Rosé Wine
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Dessert & Port Wine
Other Wines
By Varietal
Cabernet Sauvignon
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Red Blends
Pinot Noir
Pinot Grigio
Rose
By Country
France
Italy
Spain
Germany
Argentina
United States
New Zealand
By Region
Bordeaux
Tuscany
Rioja
Burgundy
Napa Valley
Explore
New Arrivals
Staff Picks
On Sale
All Wine
Wine Brands
Spirits
By Type
Vodka
Whiskey
Sake
Tequila
Rum
Gin
Brandy
Liqueur
By Country
United States
France
Ireland
Japan
Italy
Mexico
Explore
New Arrivals
Staff Picks
On Sale
All Spirits
Spirits Brands
MONTHLY SPECIALS!
On Sale
Tasting & Events
Explore
Store Info
Location & Hours
Notifications
Products We Offer
My Account
Order History
Liquor Blog
Top 5 Whiskey To Try
What Is Triple Sec?
Discover Cointreau: The Story, the Craft, and Cocktail Classics
Macallan Whiskey: A Legacy of Craftsmanship and Innovation
The Ultimate Guide to Spirits and Cocktails
Ultimate Guide to Cincoro Tequila
Tequila Rose: A Comprehensive Guide
Herradura Tequila
All About Tequila Ocho
Everything About Knob Creek Bourbon
Ketel One Vodka Facts
Top Ready-to-Drink Cocktails for Summer 2024
Top 10 Tequilas You Should Try
A Deep Dive into Woodford Reserve Bourbon: Unveiling Its Bestselling Varieties
Discover the Best Irish Whiskeys for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond
What Is a Black Manhattan?
Whiskey & Orange Juice Cocktails: A Zesty Twist on Classic Spirits
Exploring Top Shelf Whiskey
The Art and Heritage Behind Bombay Sapphire Gin & Tonic Ready-to-Drink Cocktail
1800 Tequila: Premium Mexican Spirit and Wood Aging Pioneer
How to Choose the Best Bourbon for Any Occasion
Discover Tito's Handmade Vodka
Jim Beam Orange Bourbon Whiskey with Highball Glass
Our Guide to Jagermeister Shot Glass Ice Mold Vap
Everything About Jack Daniels Sbbl Coyhill Sp Rel 6b 700m
Our Guide to Gordon's Pink Gin Strawberry Gin
Wine Blog
Learn About Rose Wine
Fun And Surprising Facts About Red Wine
Whispering Angel Rosé: The Elegance of Provence in Every Sip
Explore the World of Cabernet Sauvignon: A Guide for Wine Lovers
A Beginner's Guide to Wine Appreciation and Wine Tasting
Top Three Champagne and Sparkling Wines for Special Occasions
A Comprehensive Review of 14 Hands Wine: From Merlot to Moscato
Top 5 Chardonnays: Essential Picks for Every Wine Enthusiast
An Introduction to The Prisoner Wine Company
Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairings for Every Occasion
Perfect Food and Wine Pairings for Every Occasion
999 Broadway Chateau Buffalo: Buffalo's Signature Wine Experience
How to Choose the Best Bourbon for Any Occasion
The oldest bottle of bourbon ever sold was a pre-1915 Old Ingledew Bourbon,
auctioned for $137,500 in 2021
. But bourbon wasn't always a luxury spirit. Early American settlers made it because they couldn't transport their excess corn crops without them spoiling. They discovered that turning corn into whiskey preserved their harvest and also created something worth drinking. From those practical beginnings, bourbon has grown into a $9 billion industry, with new distilleries opening across America every year.
At
Union Wine & Liquors
, our shelves at
2675 Union Road, Cheektowaga, NY
, feature an outstanding collection of bourbons. Keep reading the blog to see our range of bourbons and get to know more about this highly sought-after spirit.
Shop the Best Bourbons from
Union Wine & Liquors
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Your perfect weekend bourbon for casual sipping or mixing classic cocktails. It offers smooth vanilla and caramel flavors with a touch of oak, making it versatile enough for an Old Fashioned or neat in a glass. At 90 proof and about 110 calories per 1.5 oz pour, it's a balanced choice for your home bar.
Maker's 46 Bourbon
A step up from regular Maker's Mark, perfect for special occasions or gift-giving. French oak staves add rich caramel and vanilla notes with a smooth, spicy finish. Best enjoyed neat or with a single ice cube to open up the flavors. 94 proof, approximately 115 calories per 1.5 oz serving.
Wild Turkey 101
A bold bourbon that shines in strong cocktails like Manhattans or bourbon and coke. Its high proof (101) and spicy character cut through mixers while maintaining its rich flavor. Higher alcohol content means more calories - about 124 per 1.5 oz pour, but the robust taste means you might use less in cocktails.
Jim Beam Bourbon
Your go-to bourbon for parties and large gatherings. Light and approachable with hints of vanilla and oak, it's great for bourbon-based punches or simple mixed drinks. At 80 proof and about 100 calories per 1.5 oz serving, it's a crowd-pleasing option that won't break the bank.
1792 Bottled in Bond
A sophisticated sipper for bourbon enthusiasts. This 100-proof bourbon offers complex flavors of dried fruit, spice, and oak - perfect for evening relaxation or impressing bourbon-loving friends. Around 120 calories per 1.5 oz pour, best enjoyed neat to appreciate its full character.
Bourbon ABV Content & Flavor Profiles
Federal law mandates that bourbon must be made from at least 51% corn, distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at 80 proof or more. The corn base gives bourbon its signature sweetness, while rye or wheat in the mash bill creates complexity.
The percentage of alcohol is classified between 40%-60% of ABV. Low ABV bourbons of about 40-45% are fantastic mixed drinks because they give easy mixing. On the other hand barrel-proof bourbons with 55-60% ABV are generally full of core flavor. If you love drinks without any form of dilution you would enjoy this kind of spirit.
Corn percentage dramatically impacts taste. More corn in the bourbon, around 70-80% gives the bourbon sweeter vanilla and caramel essences. If it's a rye-heavy mash bill, then the bourbon will be very spice heavy. On a wheat based bourbon, breads will be the most common texture flavors that will be experienced.
The Best Bourbon Brands in 2024
With bourbons, brands like Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and Wild Turkey are brands that have earned reasonable staking in many generations of distilling bourbons.
Buffalo Trace is a Kentucky distillery with several legendary lines of bourbon. They offer a standard bourbon 45 ABV that has sweet characteristics mixed with vanilla caramel and oak. They are priced on average between $25 – $35. Their history is extremely long and dates back to 1773, when the distillery operated under medical whiskey permits during prohibition.
A bottle of Maker's Mark with a red wax stamped seal is unmistakable. Since they use wheat instead of rye in their mashbill blends, the bourbon’s profile is smoother and softer. Maker’s Mark’s bourbon contains 45 percent alcohol by volume and a host of vanilla, caramel, and softer wheat notes. Furthermore the whiskey has quite reasonable prices of $30 to $40 and has quite reliable branding and claims.
Wild Turkey provides a completely different context and flavor profile. This bourbon with 101 proof (56.5 percent alcohol volume) bottles is considered legendary by serious bourbon enthusiasts. More alcohol equates to more flavor, so expect overpowering spice, heavy notes of oak, and plenty of heat throughout. The pricing is in the $25-$35 range and is perfect for heavy bourbon drinkers.
Which Are the Best Sipping Bourbons for Connoisseurs?
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve is, at least told, one of the oldest and
most sought-after bourbons
that have been appreciated by connoisseurs for years. These extraordinary whiskies spend 15 to 23 years maturing in barrels. This prolonged maturation gives them their coveted layered and premium taste.
It all begins with the right choice of corn, wheat, and rye. The master distillers at Pappy Van Winkle confirmed many years ago that sometimes different combinations in the mash bill mean different flavor profiles; for example, wheat gives a smoother, more palatable bourbon than the rye mixed recipes. Age determines the interactions to many oaks to some bourbons, where so many fail. The barrels age caramel and vanilla notes; however, giving hints of faint wood smoke, an aroma that can't be achieved through artifice.
Sticking with the theme of single barrel maturation is Blanton's Single Barrel. Bottled straight from the barrel, each one of them is guaranteed to have a different flavor experience. Sweet honey and vanilla up front, and a subdued referential oak note shows its presence when you're swallowing.
Four Roses Limited Edition is another unique brand because when they create bourbons they use a blend of multiple bourbon recipes. This creates layered flavor profiles that are completely different from traditional bourbons. This limited edition bourbon has spicy undertones mixed with dark chocolate hints, which makes for a unique sipping experience because you taste a new flavor with every sip.
Whereas Eagle Rare 17 Year is all about patience in bourbon production. Seventeen years of careful barrel aging produces the bourbon’s extraordinary depth. The tasting profile consists of leather and dried fruit notes alongside wood characteristics. The extended aging process concentrates the flavors to create a bourbon that feels more like a fine cognac than a standard whiskey.
Limited Edition and Rare Releases
Nowadays, many people treat collecting bourbons as an investment rather than just a hobby. The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection releases bottles annually in small quantities which makes them highly desirable among collectors. Some bottles have appreciated significantly in value, often selling for double or triple their original retail price within a few years.
Van Winkle editions, priced between $5,000 and $25,000, are among the most coveted. These bourbons are aged for extended periods, often over 15 years, which allows them to develop complex flavors that are difficult to replicate. Limited production and strict aging requirements mean only a small number of bottles are released each year which drives scarcity and increases demand.
Investing in bourbon relies on understanding factors like production volume, age, and the distillery's reputation. For example, bottles from distilleries with a long history of quality craftsmanship, like Buffalo Trace, are seen as reliable investments. Collectors track market trends, compare auction prices, and often buy directly from distilleries or secondary markets to secure bottles that are expected to gain value over time.
Bourbon Cocktail Recipes
Old Fashioned
Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon
1 sugar cube
2-3 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange peel
Cocktail cherry
Method:
Muddle sugar cube with bitters in a rocks glass. Add ice, pour bourbon, stir until chilled. Garnish with orange peel and cocktail cherry.
Mint Julep
Ingredients:
4 oz bourbon
8-10 fresh mint leaves
0.5 oz simple syrup
Crushed ice
Mint sprig
Method:
Muddle mint leaves with simple syrup in a julep cup. Pack with crushed ice, pour bourbon. Stir until frost forms on the exterior. Garnish with mint sprig.
Pick Up a Bottle of Bourbon Today
Stop by
Union Wine & Liquors
on Union Road in Cheektowaga, or give us a call at
(716) 608-6190
if you want to check our current bourbon selection. We love helping customers find their next favorite bottle both for sipping or adding to their collection. You can also check out our website at
unionwineandliquor.com
to see what's new on our shelves.