A specially distilled American whiskey, Bourbon is the drink of choice for the smooth gent. It’s the perfect summer drink, because somehow fighting fire with fire actually works. So, if you’re unsure which fine bourbon to pick up next time your in town, Gentry have done the thinking 9 (and the drinking) for you. Here are our Top 5 bourbons…

Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, 20 Year

This 20-year-old is special: a whiskey-hound’s defining bottle – it’s deep, powerful and concentrated taste is beautiful.  Awarded 99 out of 100 by the trend-setters over at Beverage Tasting Institute, it's rich, buttery and nutty. A subtle sipper to be taken neat and definitely without ice. One problem: its popularity has made it rather rare, so be sure to save it for only the most special of occasions.

Price: Up to £70.

Eagle Rare, 17 Year

This is a wonderful, delicate expression of a bourbon and it comes a very close second to Pappy’s. Dry, leathery, and on more warming char, toffee, some spicyness, with a faint trace of marzipan. It’s a snifter only so don’t add water! Too delicate and aromatic to stand up to much mixing for most bourbon drinks, use something heavier and beefier to mix with. Of course, it’s good with a light bodied cigar. Again, you’ll have to move fast, this is one that collector’s go wild for.

Price: Up to £50

Booker's

This is the only uncut, unfiltered, straight-from-the-barrel, connoisseur's sipping bourbon available today… Broad-shouldered and traditional, this is a worthy memorial to a legendary whiskey. The sweet, berry flavour contrasts well with the hot, spicy burn. Each barrel that will become Booker's bourbon is aged in the very center of the rack-house where the temperature and humidity combines in the perfect proportion for one of the finest bourbons available.

Price: Up to £30

Black Maple Hill

Aged for an average of eight years, Black Maple Hill Small Batch Bourbon is bottled in small batches straight from Heaven Hill Distillery oak casks in Bardston, Kentucky. In spite of its affordable price, Black Maple Hill is a nicely smooth bourbon. A 95-proof liquor, it expectedly has a bit of heat but it's met with a surprisingly mellow and dry finish with hints of butterscotch and oak.

Price: Up to £25

Old Pogue Master Select

This bourbon has a history dating back to the years following the Civil War. In 1869, the orginal Pogue Ddistillery was established in Maysville Kentucky. Pogue ceased production due to Prohibition, but they did not forget how to craft excellent small batch bourbon. 45.5% alcohol. It smells wonderful (salt and cooked maple) and it goes down smooth: spiced vanilla mellowed with black tea. A welcome addition to the field (and Gentry’s already over populated liquor cabinet)!

Price: Up to: £45

Related Features:

1. The Perfect Mint Julep