The best bourbon is the one you are enjoying at the time. I enjoy a variety of bourbons. I stick with Kentucky distilled bourbon because it really is about the water. I also spoke to a distiller who told me he liked some bourbons from outside Kentucky, because they sold the bourbon to the companies. Not sure how that works, but not sure I want a bourbon made with New York water.
Somewhat ashamed to admit it but Redwood Empire out of California makes a bourbon style called Pipe Dream Whiskey that I find excellent.
My sister married a man who’s family owned a distillery in Houston that made good vodka, and tequila. But their bourbon? I got one of their first batches. It tasted OK, at first... but then, my upper lip went numb.
I asked: Where did they get the water? Local, from Houston.
That’s all I needed to hear. I still have a nearly full bottle of it.