Best value bourbons

[jeff]

Well, just found out today that my health insurance premiums will be going up by 33% so I need to trim my liquor budget a bit. What bourbons would you recommend that have some of the qualities of top shelf brands at the middle to bottom shelf prices?

[bobbyc]

Old forester 86 Cheaper than 4YO Beam and a hell of a lot better. AAA, Buy some Barton it gets overlooked because they aren't throwing millions in ads and it sits on or near the bottom shelf, Wild Turkey, I remember when WT Maker's and Dickel were the top shelf , A lot has changed in 30 years. Heaven Hill puts out some decent bourbon in JTS Brown , Echo Spring and JW Dant you may want to see if you can get a 1/2 pint to try they may not be what you are looking for. Old Charter classic 90

Hope this Helps Elijah Craig 12 easily the best value for the money.

[cowdery]

Old Fitzgerald has always been my "budget" choice.

[ratcheer]

My three top choices that are under $20 are Wild Turkey 101, Old Forester 100-proof, and Elijah Craig 12-yr old.

Tim

[kgiammarco]

Virginia Gentleman 90 proof... It may not be the cheapest, but for some reason, to me it tastes like it should cost a lot more than it does...

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Jeff the cheapest bourbon on my ABC store's bottom shelf is Ten High at $6.75 per 750ml bottle. It's quite young with a very simple nose and flavor. The best thing I can say for Ten High is that it does not taste bad. It does taste better than Old Crow and it is cheaper. When you compare Ten High with the alternatives at that price point you've got the very cheapest vodkas; gins and 'brown vodkas' (blended whiskies) - Ten High looks far more attractive and it certianly tastes better than those non-bourbon alternatives. Don't forget there's always beer!

[Winslow]

You said that you like Makers's. I tried it and found it to be similar to Evan williams Single Barrel. Why don't you try Evan Williams 7 year old. I can get it in Michigan for just under $9.00 for 750 ml. You could probably beat that in KY. It's pretty thin, but not bad tasting.

[jeff]

let's not get carried away, I'm not quite to the point of spending my weekends with a gallon of Thunderbird or something like that Really I'm looking for 750ml's in the 10-15 dollar range to try. My favorite in that range right now is WT 80. I will give the Ten High a try (sounds like a marketing slogan).

[jeff]

Last night I went to the Liquor Barn armed with my list of suggestions. I initially picked up a bottle of AAA 10yr. I have read that this has been hard for some people to find, but the shelves are full of it here (I made sure that it was the 10yr and not the 10 star). However I opted for buying an assortment of pints to do a little comparative tasting. I bought the AAA10yr, Evan Williams 7 and Old Forrester 86. I will try to post a tasting report when I get time, but I think the AAA was my initial favorite, EW coming in second with OF a close third. They were all acceptable in my book. The AAA went for about $11 for the 750ml. I didn't remember to check for the others. What are your thought on these three?

[texascarl]

Value bourbon -- Local prices under $20

Spicy Drams

*Knob Creek 9 yr, 101 proof $18

Eagle Rare 10 yr, 101 $16

*Ezra Brooks 7 year, 101 $13

Old Grand-dad BIB $13

*Old Grand-dad 114 $19

Wild Turkey 101 $15

*Elijah Craig 12 yr 94 proof $15

Smoother Drams

Old Fitz BIB $13

*David Nicolson 1843 BIB (really Old Fitz BIB that's 7 years old) $16

*Old Fitz 1849, 8 years 90 proof $15

*Old Charter 'The Classic' 12 year 90 proof $16 (all Old Charters = a bargain)

Wellers Reserve 12 yr 90 proof $17

Wellers Reserve 107 $16

Rye

*Wild Turkey Rye 101 $16

Old Overholt $11 - leaves enough $$$ to buy a case of ginger ale.

* = personal faves

[ratcheer]

Winslow, your impression of EW Black is the same as mine: thin and one-dimensional, but nevertheless, a pretty good bourbon flavor. I probably won't buy it again, but I won't turn my nose up at it, either.

When I want Heaven Hill whiskey, it will usually be Elijah Craig 12-yo or Evan Williams Single Barrel. When I was in Atlanta, last week, I looked closely at a bottle of EC 18-yo, but it was about $36 and I decided against it.

Tim

[bluesbassdad]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />

I looked closely at a bottle of EC 18-yo, but it was about $36 and I decided against it.

[bobbyc]

I'm glad to see where you are coming from Jeff. I won't suggest the paint and solvents section of the Hardware store! But seriously you can find plenty of good drinks in that range, It becomes even more subjective .

[ratcheer]

Dave said: "So what did you buy with the $36 you saved? (Hey, my wife thinks like that, and so can I. )"

Well, I don't exactly think like that, but what I bought was:

Old Rip Van Winkle 10-yo 107 proof

Wathen's

Old Grand Dad 114-proof

I have tasted the Old Rip and I like it a lot. I haven't tasted the others, yet and have never tasted either one. But, I hope to get in to the OGD, tonight.

Tim

[boone]

Dave,

I have already kicked your ass (in my thoughts) many times ................. But,let me tell ya, I don't mess with folks that are just being honest (in their opinion) ........

BTW.....Elijah Craig 18 year is what I prefer .........

Bettye Jo

[bluesbassdad]

I haven't had the OGD 114 yet. I'll be very interested in what you have to say about it, especially if you can compare it to OGD BIB.

That is not to say that I'm not interested in what you have to say about the other two; I am. It's just that I know Wathan's and ORVW 10/107 are good; I'm still waffling as to whether to buy the OGD 114 the next time I place a Sam's order.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[bluesbassdad]

Bettye Jo,

And I don't mess with anyone who can personhandle a barrel of bourbon.

I reckon I'll be trying EC18 again real soon with an even more open mind.

Right now I'm in an ORVW 15/107 fog, and the preceding seems really funny to me. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[MurphyDawg]

And I was about to mail you a bottle of King Cobra Malt Liquor too. . . .

TomC

[MurphyDawg]

texascarl says :*Ezra Brooks 7 year, 101 $13

Bingo !! there is my suggestion. I can get it at $11 a fifth and I think it tastes like $25 bourbon, OLD EZRA 7 Year 101, is the shit in my book, a great everyday pour.

TomC

[jeff]

Hold off on that, I have't finished my bottle of El Toro yet

[jeff]

I need quick help! I get off work in an hour. I have a budget of $15. I will make a beeline for the Liquor Barn. What do I buy?

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

Old Charter 'Classic 90' 12 year old. Only twelve bucks!

[bluesbassdad]

Linn,

I liked the eight year-old well enough to be interested in the 90 proof 12 year-old, but I haven't seen it in these parts.

Can KY stores ship out of state to an individual, or is that a felony too, as is shipping wine into KY?

Yours truly,

Dave Morefield

[Guest **DONOTDELETE**]

You got it Dave! Do this => get in your Geo and start driving East. Stop in Kentucky. We'll meet you there! Soon.

[jeff]

Yeah, Sorry about your luck there were about 20 bottles on the shelf here. Thanks for the tip Linn. This bourbon is quite good, although the price was a little higher here, about $14.99