The best bourbon of the month clubs do more than deliver a delicious spirit to your doorstep—they provide a spectrum of unique experiences. These can range from expert-led educational opportunities that take you deeper into the bourbon to landing the rare or hard-to-find bottle that practically disappears the moment it hits store shelves. When done right, these clubs can turn you from a mere bourbon lover into a staunch bourbon enthusiast.
Best Bourbon of the Month Clubs of 2022
Best Overall: Flaviar Best Variety: Mash&Grape Best Value: PourMore Best for Sampling: Shots Box Best for Gifting: Bounty Hunter Best for Bourbon Aficionados: Taster’s Club
ProsAccess to guided tastingsFlexible delivery schedulingFull-sized bottles or tasting boxesConsNo free shipping for base service OverviewEveryone enjoys bourbon at their own pace. Some may want to dive into the category and learn everything they can. Others may want to simply enjoy a bottle at their leisure, whatever that leisure looks like in the context of their busy schedule. Flaviar builds its bourbon subscription services with this in mind, resulting in an experience that’s fully in your hands. Flaviar bakes flexibility into its membership: Each shipment grants you the option to receive one full-sized bottle or a “tasting box” of three mini-bottles of premium bourbons, each curated by Flaviar’s roster of tasting experts. You’ll also have control over when you receive your shipment—you can sign up for the standard monthly shipment, or you can opt for two- or eight-product shipments that let you decide how much bourbon you want in a shipment, and when you want them to show up at your doorstep. Signing up for the two- or eight-product option gives you a small price break compared to the monthly option. You can also sign up for their upgraded Primo membership and enjoy free shipping. All bourbon club memberships provide you access to guided tastings where industry experts break down the subtleties and nuances of your selections. You’ll also receive invites to monthly tasting webinars and live events, allowing you to raise a glass with fellow bourbon lovers. If you need a break from bourbon, just let Flaviar know, and they’ll put your subscription on hold for a month.Pricing and PlansOne product: $60 per monthTwo products: $110 every three monthsEight products: $350 per year ProsBottles from small and independent distilleriesMultiple subscription plans at same monthly priceTasting notes and distillery info with each shipmentConsNo free shippingOnly available in 25 states OverviewIt’s never a bad idea to deviate from your favorite bourbons. It’s how you discover new favorites, broaden your collection, and build your appreciation for the spirit’s eclectic possibilities. Mash&Grape’s bourbon subscription service makes an ideal guide for this type of growth. The company’s seasoned team of experts painstakingly searches the country for small and independent distilleries crafting bourbons worthy of sharing with their customers. Their handiwork results in a steady mix of smaller brands you’ve been meaning to try and labels you haven’t heard of before sent straight to your door every month. You’ll also get tasting notes and info sharing the distillery’s story. With your Mash&Grape subscription, you’ll receive one full-size bottle a month. The company offers three-, six-, and 12-month subscription plans at the same monthly price—a great option if you want to give a smaller plan a try to see if the service works for you. Mash&Grape also boasts an online store featuring a wide selection of bourbons from around the country, including some ultra-rare and limited edition labels.Pricing and PlansThree-month bourbon plan: $69 per month ($207 total)Six-month bourbon plan: $69 per month ($414 total)12-month bourbon plan: $69 per month ($828 total)Other spirits plan: from $44 per month ProsCost-effective tier optionSmall batch, single barrel, and cask strength labelsFlexible delivery optionsConsShipping costs extra OverviewLike any hobby, getting into bourbon is an investment. This can be intimidating if you’re new to the game and aren’t sure how to start. Fortunately, PourMore’s cost-effective monthly subscription services take the sting out of starting your journey. The bourbons that the tasting team acquires for the monthly bourbon service typically average 10 to 15% above your monthly subscription fee, so you’re getting a great deal with every delivery. You’ll also have the chance to receive some special selections, including small batch, single barrel, and cask strength bottles. PourMore offers two tiers within their bourbon club. The less-expensive intro tier is perfect for beginners, while the more-expensive bourbon explorer tier is ideal if you’re ready to dive into pricier bourbon expressions. Regardless of the tier, you can expect one full-size bottle to arrive at your door, along with tasting notes, a specialty cocktail recipe, and hyperlinks that lead to even more robust educational content. You can pay for your club on a monthly basis. If you know you’re in it for the long haul, you can choose to pay upfront for a three-, six-, or 12-month subscription and receive a price break.Pricing and PlansBourbon Intro Tier: $49Bourbon Explorer Tier: $79Other spirit clubs: From $49 Shots Box gives you the option of choosing six- or 12-month prepaid membership plans. Regardless of the plan you choose, you’ll receive your bourbon subscription box on a bimonthly basis. You’ll also receive free shipping—an added bonus. Your first shipment comes with a pair of Glencairn tasting glasses and a tasting journal so you can properly sample the bourbon and break down the experience. Shot Box’s team provides the first full-sized bottle on the first shipment.Pricing and PlansHalf-year membership: $299Full-year membership: $499 ProsFree shipping20% online store discountRare releases and barrel picks ConsOnly ships to AK, CA, DC, FL, NE, NH, and ND, due to current restrictions OverviewIt’s common for monthly bourbon subscription boxes to feature gift options. So common, it produces a crowded field for gift givers to consider. Bounty Hunter’s Bourbon Trail Box stands out from this packed field because it offers your gift recipient special perks in addition to some exquisite bourbon. They can expect to receive a wide range of hand-selected bottles highlighting various bourbon styles, along with the occasional private barrel-pick selection and rare releases. In addition to this bourbon goodness, they’ll gain a 20% discount on Bounty Hunter’s entire online inventory, which also includes a stellar roster of wines in addition to bourbon and other spirits. They’ll also enjoy Trailblazer membership, a perk that lets them enjoy free shipping on their orders. You’ll have the option to send out shipments on a monthly or quarterly basis. The monthly option provides gift recipients with two full-size bottles a month, while the quarterly option gives them six full-size bottles in a single package. Each shipment is educational, too—cards with tasting notes and information detailing distillery history and bourbon’s distillation specs are included in each shipment. The cards also feature ordering info in case your friend, family member, or work colleague feels compelled to pick up an extra bottle.Pricing and PlansBourbon Trail Club: $249Other clubs: From $99 Taster’s Club offers a wide range of bourbon subscription packages. You can pay as you go on a monthly basis to give the service a whirl. If you’re ready to commit long-term, you can sign up for a prepaid three-, six-, or 12-month membership. Each option delivers one full-sized bourbon bottle to your doorstep each month. If you’re into other spirits, Taster’s Club also offers monthly clubs for gin, Scotch, tequila, and more.Pricing and PlansBourbon of the Month Club subscription: $69.99/monthThree-month prepaid membership: $275.00Six-month prepaid membership: $550.0012-month prepaid membership: $1,100.00Other spirits subscription: from $44.99/month
How Do Bourbon of the Month Clubs Work?
Bourbon of the month clubs ship full-sized or mini tasting bottles of bourbon to your front door at a set interval. This shipment typically ranges from a monthly to a quarterly basis, and most clubs use a team of experts to select the bottles in each shipment. In addition to bourbons, shipments feature any combination of tasting notes, information on the bourbon distillery, and cocktail recipes.
How Much Do Bourbon Subscriptions Cost?
The cost of bourbon subscriptions depends on shipment frequency. Monthly plans typically land within the $50 to $70 price range. Quarterly, biannual, or annual subscription services may require a single upfront payment, but the cost may contain a modest discount when the price breaks down on a monthly basis. Most subscription services charge an additional cost for shipping.
What Is the Difference Between Whiskey and Bourbon?
All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskies are bourbon due to specific federal regulations. A bourbon’s mash—that is, the grain mix used to produce distillate—must be additive free and at least 51% corn. The mash must also be distilled in new charred oak barrels and cannot be barreled at anything higher than 125 proof. Bottled bourbon cannot be lower than 80 proof.
Does Bourbon Go Bad?
Bourbon will not go bad as long as the bottle remains closed. Once the bottle is open, the juice has a shelf life of about one to two years. Certain factors contribute to this variance, such as the amount of bourbon in the bottle and the bottle’s exposure level to light and heat.
Methodology
We looked at roughly a dozen bourbon subscription services to build this review. We considered metrics pertaining to product quality and taste experience since these services typically feature curated bottles emphasizing craft, small batch, and hard-to-find selections. We also gave some consideration to subscription cost and plan options.
