When it comes to today's most innovative whiskey distilleries, US bourbon producers are leading the pack.

From its origins in Kentucky, bourbon production has expanded to other states, where the drink can range in flavor profiles from honeysuckle and mint to toffee and warm oak.

Price tags for the bourbons vary greatly, with some originally available for anywhere from $35 to $700, and others reaching offers upwards of $14,000 on the secondary market (if you can find them).

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Many people know the phrase, "All bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskeys are bourbon." But what does that mean, exactly?

There are few requirements for a liquor to be called bourbon. It has to be made in the US (not necessarily Kentucky, although that's where the drink originated), with a grain mash that contains 51% or more corn, and aged in an American white-oak cask that's been "charred," as in the inside of the barrel has been torched, leaving a dark layer of charred wood. The cask can be charred to various degrees of intensity: the more char, the better the whiskey will be able to penetrate the wood and develop a darker color. Also, to be called "straight" bourbon, it must be aged a minimum of three years.

Bourbon is a sweeter whiskey by design, because corn is a sweet grain (think of it like cornbread vs. rye bread). The general flavor profiles will include notes of vanilla, candy corn, caramel, toasted marshmallows, butterscotch, and cinnamon, and the older bourbons will have darker notes of plums, dates, and even leather.

And although alcohol is on demand with the rise of delivery services, the bourbon industry is not unscathed by the COVID-19 pandemic, said acclaimed bourbon expert Fred Minnick. Tourism is a key factor in distillers' revenue, and with individuals enforcing self-quarantine and social distancing, that has been rendered impossible.

Fred Minnick. Fred Minnick

"Many of these distilleries are small, family-owned businesses, and a lot of them rely a big chunk on live events," he said.

Live tastings are also on hold, unless you do them online. Minnick has offered live tastings on his YouTube channel for years, making the transition easier, but for bartenders, distillers, and tasters accustomed to helping clients in person, times are tough. As such, Minnick hosted live-tasting fundraiser on Friday for bartenders out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Still, with the ability to order bourbon unhindered, Business Insider spoke to three bourbon experts about their favorite bourbons on the market right now.

The experts

Minnick is the author of seven libation-based books. A frequent judge of the best bourbons in the United States at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, he's moved into producing his own podcast, which pairs musicians to whiskies, in addition to curating for the prestigious Bourbon and Beyond festival.

At 32, Marianne Eaves is Kentucky's first female bourbon Master Distiller, the title used for experts in alcohol creation, since Prohibition. Having started at the distinguished Brown-Forman distillery, she is venturing into her own business as a spirits consultant on the road with her family after spending four years reviving another famed bourbon brewer, Castle & Key. In 2014, she was on Forbes 30 under 30 for her role as a Master Taster at Brown-Forman.

Tommy Tardie. Courtesy of Tommy Tardie

Tommy Tardie is a whiskey expert and owner of two fine-dining locations in New York City, Fine & Rare and the Flatiron Room, which offer about 1,400 unique bourbon expressions (different versions) and live music every night.

In no particular order, these are their top 15 picks.