Disturbing Trend

[Gillman]

I agree with Squire's and Jeffrey R's emendations to my list of good affordable bourbons. Indeed I buy some in the $20-$30 range, sometimes, and the good ones were mentioned.

I see no reason to spend more in terms of quality. Stagg when you can find it is actually a decent value because of the very high proof, and age, but apart from that when I've spent more I've been disappointed including the higher end WT's, the limited edition of 4R SB last year (I know a lot of people liked it but I didn't), those Taylors as issued by BT, and I can go on. I did enjoy Masterson's which is kind of in a category of its own - Canadian, all-rye - but generally will not spend more than $30.00 now in the U.S. (I'll go a little higher in Ontario because all the prices here are higher to begin with).

Gary

[Gillman]

I meant the LE of 4R Small Batch, not the single barrel (which I like a lot).

Gary

[GaryT]

While my "everyday" pours are on the lower end (under $30 a bottle stuff), I hate to admit that I'll still buy the expensive stuff that I've had and liked (GTS, THH). What I have found out though is that I don't need to buy it every year (and maybe not even every other year!!) If I drank it more frequently, I think it would lose a bit of the luster it has for me (not to mention hit my pocketbook), and there is plenty of damn fine bourbon under $30. If I had to pick one thing to drink for the rest of my life and forgo all others, it would probably be ETL rather than GTS (but damn . . . I'd miss the Stagg!) I fully expect prices to continue to go up, especially as different entities are trying to reduce their debt/deficits. Tax is already a huge percentage as it is!