15 bourbons that should be on your radar, according to 3 bourbon experts

Eaves boasts Barrell Craft Spirits' bourbon for its commitment to thoughtful batching.

"They purchase barrels and then they spend a lot of time making sure that if it needs to continue to age, that it does," she said. "They're also breaking into new spirit categories, which I think is really cool."

Sold in numbered batches, their bottles range from $70 to $300.

Eaves also favored Old Carter Whiskey Co. as a traditional, well-rounded bourbon maker. The family has been in the business for a while and knows what they're doing.

"I think what they're doing with their second iteration brand with Old Carter is maybe even more interesting, taking source bourbon and just being very thoughtful in the way that they put it together."

Prices start around $180 a bottle.

For an affordable, easy find, Minnick turns to Evan Williams Single Barrel.

"It's got a malt note to it, caramel backbone: A very good expression of a traditional recipe in American whiskey," he said. Costs are capped at $25 for this well-known bourbon.

He also praised their Bottled-in-Bond. At 100 proof, it's only $12.

"More bang for your buck than anything on the market," he said, adding that he chose it as his best everyday bourbon of the year last year.

Minnick turned to Wild Turkey's Rare Breed bottle, which he noted was a complex concoction of grapefruit, honey, caramel, and nutmeg flavors. It's on the market for just over $42.

Eaves chose the distiller's Russell's Reserve instead as a tried-and-true Kentucky bourbon.

"It's gonna make an excellent cocktail," she said. "You know, it's got a beautiful, bold, rich flavor." Prices range from $30 to $60, depending on the age.