Recommended "not too expensive" bourbons--and maybe other whisk(e)ys

[jfmorris]

I've been drinking mostly Elijah Craig small batch around here, but don't think it meets the criteria of < $50 for 1.75L.

[shify]

It’s all taste dependent but Four roses is a great and inexpensive bourbon.

I’m a scotch drinker, so if you are looking for a reasonably priced scotch I’d definitely recommend Compass Box King Street. It’s a vatted malt which means a bunch of blended single malts. They have a few varieties that are tasty and around 30ish per bottle. Monkey Shoulder is another good blended scotch but I tend to use it for cocktails rather than drinking neat

[Huskee]

I've heard good things about Compass Box's expressions, never tried though. I think Monkey Shoulder is good. I've been known to tell people it's the Buffalo Trace of Scotch.

[shify]

Huskee - I’m a fan. Hedonism is great but $$$$$. They had a couple others that were great but also expensive. Based on those, I tried the King St bottlings, plus the price couldn’t be beat. They have a few versions and all have been good, esp at the price

[Andrrr]

1.75 for under $40. Well it doesn’t exactly fit but my go to is the 1.75 of Makers for $43 at Costco. As I type this:

[Huskee]

I missed the $40 for 1.75L. Disregard my posts above.

[Bkhuna]

Evan Williams 1783 handles are $28.00 here. Good all around inexpensive bourbon. I do prefer Buffalo Trace and can usually get a handle for around $43.00. For special times, I enjoy Eagle Rare, Knob Creek 9, or Makers Mark 46.

[luvthemstillers]

Since many options have already been mentioned here, I'll go with a few from Heaven Hill:

Mellow Corn

Fighting Cock

Larceny

[Baltimorelger]

Mellow Corn is highly underrated.

[realdocBBQ]

Larceny is the bomb, but it's not super cheap around here.

[Alphonse]

The dollar figure is highly dependent on state taxes on liquor and competition. Dear ol' Alabama is one of the worst. High taxes and there is no competition since you must buy from the state. Meanwhile I live near Florida and whenever I am there I gladly restock my cabinet.

I am a bourbon and TN whiskey fan. Lots of mentions already but one fairly inexpensive TN sour mash that I recently got back to and am enjoying is George Dickel No. 12. It seems to be a favorite of some of my guests as well! (I noticed that Mr. Bones likes it too.)

BTW, I keep the expensive stuff in the "invitational" cabinet, meaning that my oldest son with the expensive palate stays out of it unless invited. He loves a good pour of Woodford Double Oak and the like.

[jfmorris]

I will second Alabama being the pits for alcohol and liquor pricing. It's the first thing I noticed when moved here from Georgia in 1989! At least we can buy beer here now that my friends used to pay me to mule back from trips to Georgia for them. I think when I moved here anything higher than 6%ABV was illegal in Alabama, meaning most Belgians and what little craft beer existed in the 90's was illegal. Now? There's a brewery on every corner it seems in Huntsville at least!

[Huskee]

I like Dickel too for the inexpensive ones. Woodford Double Oaked is one of my faves! It's the whiskey you have for dessert after other whiskey IMO, total Werther's.

[Alphonse]

Huskee, I love a tablespoon or two of Woodford Double Oaked on vanilla ice cream for dessert. I often serve that to guests at our camp for dessert without telling them what it is and they rave about it and beg for the recipe!

[au4stree]

Most of my faves have already been mentioned. But haven’t seen anyone throw Clyde Mays in there. They have a delicious rye as well.

[Red Man]

Knob Creek bourbon and rye is probably my favorite, followed by Buffalo Trace.

[kjbarth]

Elijah Craig
Four Roses (anything)
OGD 114
Beam Black
Knob Creek
Russels Reserve SiB (though that might be a little above your stated budget)

[Thunder77]

Breckinridge Bourbon out of Colorado. I got a bottle after joining a tasting club. Very smooth, and not too expensive.

[Huskee]

Kudos for the shout out to Breckenridge. Great stuff! I have a bottle I opened for a tasting but haven't touched since because I can't find it locally to replace it.

[klflowers]

Yea, I got a bottle of Breckenridge from the Flaviar club Huskee turned me on to. I left the club, but before I left I should have ordered more bottles of it since I can't find it locally. Come to think of it, I may rejoin just to order more.

[ecowper]

For a daily sipper, I actually really like the Costco stuff .... Kirkland 7 year Bourbon. And the price for 1L is pretty good. Knob Creek costs a little more, but not much, and it's a nice daily as well.

On Friday night, splurge with some Michters :-)

my two cents worth.

[crazytown3]

I really like that Kirkland Bourbon as well. It's kind of, sort of Knob Creek-ish, but different in a good way.

[Huskee]

Rumor has it Costco's 7yr bourbon is from George Dickel.

[ecowper]

Huskee a little Costco birdy may have tweeted in my ear

[Starsky]

Wow. A lot of good choices. I once had one called Duke. At the time around $25. I believe one of John Wayne's sons is behind it. I found it to be slightly better than Buffalo Trace. A liquor distributor was in a cigar lounge here in illinois and he offered us a taste of Burnside Oregon Oaked bourbon. It's made out west and not available in stores near me. You can find it online though. About $35

[Old Glory]

Monkey Shoulder
High West Double Rye
Glenlivet 12 Year Old
Glenfiddich 12
Green Spot Irish Whiskey
Red Breast 12 Irish Whiskey

A few might be around $60 but they are worth it. Redbreast in particular is excellent

[Jared49]

I’m with ya on the Green Spot, great sippin whiskey.

[Thunder77]

Definitely with you on the Monkey Shoulder and the Redbreast. Red Breast can be a bit pricy, but worth it, IMHO.

[klflowers]

I decided to finally quit smoking, which meant I had to stop drinking too, since Bourbon was my nicotine trigger. But when I go back to sipping:

Buffalo Trace
Four Roses
Breckenridge when I can find it
Gentleman Jack
Larceny
Basil Hayden
Dickel

[ecowper]

Gentleman Jack is pretty good and reasonably priced.