THE BOURBON BALL JOURNAL
How to choose Kentucky bourbon balls: a first-timer’s guide
· By Best of Bourbon Balls
How do you choose a bourbon ball? Start with a bourbon name you enjoy, choose a box size for your occasion, and compare a few makers if you are curious. A tasting flight is a useful starting point when you do not yet have a favorite.
Kentucky bourbon balls bring bourbon and chocolate together in a small confection. The collection at A Taste of Kentucky includes several interpretations, from established distillery names to local candy makers. This guide helps you navigate that selection without pretending that one maker is everyone’s favorite.
What is inside a Kentucky bourbon ball?
Many of the products in this collection have a bourbon-infused cream center, a dark chocolate coating, and a pecan on top. The choice of bourbon and each maker’s recipe give the candies their individual character. Always check the current product label for exact ingredients and allergens.
Start with a familiar bourbon
If you already enjoy Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, or Maker’s Mark, their bourbon balls offer a natural place to start. Woodford Reserve has several box sizes, including small two-piece options. Buffalo Trace is offered in four-, sixteen-, and thirty-two-piece boxes, while Maker’s Mark has sixteen- and thirty-two-piece options.
Explore Woodford Reserve bourbon balls at A Taste of Kentucky.
Explore a candy-making tradition
Rebecca Ruth bourbon balls have been made in Kentucky since 1938. Their bourbon cream, dark chocolate, and pecan finish make them a useful reference point for exploring the tradition. Happy Balls! takes another local route: the Old Louisville confection uses Knob Creek bourbon in its crème center.
See Rebecca Ruth’s current box options.
Choose the size for the occasion
A small box works well for an individual introduction. A larger box gives you more to share at a gathering. Pappy & Company offers four- and twelve-piece options made with Old Rip Van Winkle 10-Year Bourbon. Consider both the number of guests and how many other sweets you plan to serve rather than assuming every box serves the same number of people.
Try a flight when you want to compare
The Large Bourbon Ball Flight brings together six names: Maker’s Mark, Rebecca Ruth, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace, Pappy & Company, and Evan Williams. It contains 85 pieces, so it suits a shared tasting. The Mini Flight is another option; check its current product listing for the exact contents before ordering.
Explore the Large Bourbon Ball Flight.
How should you taste bourbon balls?
Serve them at room temperature, take a small bite, and notice the chocolate, filling, bourbon character, and pecan texture. Water between samples makes comparison easier. Coffee or espresso can be a pleasant companion. These are tasting suggestions, rather than a ranking or a claim that every product tastes alike.
Check details before gifting
Review current ingredients, availability, and shipping information on the retailer’s page. Pecans and dairy appear in many bourbon balls. Warm-weather delivery may need additional cold packing. Prices and sizes can change, so use the current A Taste of Kentucky listing for your final purchase decision.
Compare the bourbon ball collection or join our newsletter for more Kentucky sweet discoveries.
Sources
Product details checked November 7, 2026, against A Taste of Kentucky’s bourbon ball collection and the product pages linked above. This guide offers editorial shopping suggestions; no independent taste-test ranking is claimed.