Let’s get this out of the way — older bourbon isn’t always the best bourbon. But there is a sweet spot that a lot of bourbon can hit somewhere between six and 15 years that just works. It doesn’t really matter if it’s single barrels, bottled in bonds, or small batch bourbons — there’s a heightened sense to most bourbon whiskeys at these ages. Beyond 15 years and the bourbon can get very tannic (woody and bitter); while younger than six years and you’ll get more goopy porridge and plasticky vanilla.