Recommended "not too expensive" bourbons--and maybe other whisk(e)ys
I'm backing off on beer a lot--calories and that "too filling" sensation and, as a result, I've found bourbon (neat, no ice) to be a satisfying sipper. I've enjoyed most all I've tried--Jim Beam, JB Black Label, Woodford Reserve, Bulleit, Evan Williams, Buffalo Trace, Jack (yeah, I know, it's "Tennessee Sippin' Whiskey")... so, my question is what do YOU find to be a good, reliable bourbon (or whiskey) priced in the range of less than $40-ish for 1.75 liters.
That said, I DO enjoy sipping Grand Marnier or absinthe as well...
That's a tough one, it's like asking what's the best wine to drink. Do you have a "nice" liquor store with a somewhat knowledgeable staff that you can pose this question to? Even here in the culinary wasteland of The Great State of Jefferson we have a number of those proprietors.
I enjoy Evan Williams BIB (White Label). It's a great value for a 100 proof bottled in bond whiskey that is also quality. $29 at Total Wine for a 1.75. Jim Beam Black and their Bottled in Bond are both good value and quality bourbons and run just around $35 for a 1.75
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Buffalo Trace ($28ish)
Four Roses Small Batch ($35ish)
Early Times bottled in bond...if you can find it currently since they're undergoing a change in ownership, it's usually $25 for a 1L bottle
1792 Small Batch
Old Forester 99 proof...significantly better than their 86 proof if you ask me. ($25-30-ish)
Eagle Rare
Wild Turkey 101 or Rare Breed
Woodinville (different from Woodford Reserve, which is also good)
If you're interested in ryes I can share my faves of that too but they're different enough I'll keep them out of this list.
glitchy I'm sure it's just a different year's batch. No laws like that here, we have all proofs all over. Something tells me the 99 & 100 are nearly identical. Great value either way. I have 3L of that aging in one of my barrels right now...mmmm..
glitchy My bad, brain fart. Old Foresyer was indeed 100 proof. The 99 I was thinking of was Ezra Brooks 99 (and it's not too bad either for bottom shelf)
My go to’s have mostly been hit already. Iâ€m too cheap to spend much over $30 most of the time:
Old Forrester 100 proof, I’m with Huskee thinking it’s better tasting than the 86
Four Roses Small Batch
Bulleit
Elijah Craig
Once in a while I do Rye as well:
Tenpleton
Jack Daniels Rye is actually not that bad
One or my buddies likes to try the expensive stuff and has always been a good pal, so when we get together I buy him a couple bottles of the $50-100 stuff to add to his collection and we sample it together. Most of it hasn’t impressed me that much over the $25-40 bottles. Angel’s Envy was extremely disappointing. One bottle stood out last time, but 6 of us sampled quite a few that night. Pretty sure that I think it maybe definitely was a Jefferson Reserve, but it might have been something more special like a Reserve Small Batch or aged in a special barrel type. I also tried one of the $60 bottles of Old Forrester and didn’t think it stood much above the 100 proof.
what do YOU find to be a good, reliable bourbon (or whiskey)
(reaches for keyboard )
priced in the range of less than $40-ish for 1.75 liters.
Hmm. I'd rather pay a little more and get a lot better stuff. So...
Bourbon - Larceny 92. Usually about $30/750 but it's a really nice wheated bourbon.
Blended Scotch - Monkey Shoulder or Shackleton. About the same price as above. These work well in cocktails too.
Rye - Rittenhouse
Also check out Costco branded stuff and Trader Joe's branded stuff. I picked up a single malt Scotch for $22 last winter that wasn't great compared to the better examples I can get.... but it was 1/4 to 1/5 the price and good.
Last edited by rickgregory; April 12, 2021, 08:13 PM.
Maker's Mark
Knob Creek
Buffalo Trace
Beam Black
Elijah Craig
Longbranch
High West
Bulleit
Henry McKennah's 12 y.o. b.i.b.
Basil Hayden's
George Dickel 12 year old Tennessee Sour Mash
Reckon that there ^ oughtta git ya started, t'wards stumblin lol
Last edited by Mr. Bones; April 12, 2021, 08:38 PM.
I couldn’t think of the name in my post above so didn’t include it originally, but who’s tried Ancient Age? For the bottom shelf, my experience is that it’s actually pretty close to most of the other stuff in my list. It’s something like $15 for a fifth and $25 for a 1.75L locally. The funny thing is, it’s on the allocation system in Iowa, meaning it’s hard to find.
They use to bottle one called Ancient Ancient Age 10 year old (not to be confused with AAA 10 star) that was a great bourbon. That stuff was amazing. Buffalo Trace no longer sells it.
Smokin-It 3D
Weber Kettle with an SNS
Masterbuilt kettle that I call the $30 wonder grill
Bullet by Bull Grills gasser
Anova WiFi sous vide machine
Thermoworks Thermapen and Chef Alarm
Weller is allocated and we only get a little bit in Florida. One chain carries it and you have to be a Gold Card member to be able to even get on the waiting list.
My local liquor store owner is heading to KY on a trip and has a couple of Weller 12 yo for me.
Scotch: Current favorite- The Arran (anything by them), Glenmorangie 12yr Lasanta, sherry cask finished. The Balvenie Double Wood, also like Oban 18yr, and The Glenlivet Nadurra (Oloroso sherry cask finished) among others. Neat please.
About meReal name: Aaron
Location: Farwell, Michigan - near Clare (dead center of lower peninsula).
Occupation:
Healthcare- Licensed & Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at MyMichigan Health, a University of Michigan Health System.
Since you said go ahead for ryes, here's my recc's for those:
Templeton 6 (4 is good too, but a little too gentle methinks) Very bubble-gummy and delicious IMO
1776 James Pepper Rye
Rittenhouse
Rare Breed Rye (yum!) from Wild Turkey
Pikesville
Peerless (pricey)
WhistlePig (pricey)
If you can find Alberta Distiller's "Alberta Premium", it's what a few WhisltePig expressions are currently using, so get it first!
Russel's Reserve Single Barrel rye
Pinhook
Woodinville
Some cheaper ryes are fairly decent too:
Jack Daniels Rye, and even better is their Single Barrel Rye
Old Forester rye
George Dickel rye
A rye which I love its bourbon brother but IMO their rye is bleh is Woodford Reserve Rye, tried it twice a couple years apart and I just can't appreciate it.
fzxdoc I will have to sample it in a lounge or somewhere where I'm not investing in a bottle. I know all too well there are bourbons I love but don't like their rye counterparts (even though I LOVE ryes), so I hope this is the opposite- love the rye but not the bourbon. I remember that you are an AE fan, so I will update you if I get to try their rye!
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