Best Bourbon For $10, $20, $30, $40, $50?

[cowdery]

What's the best bourbon you can buy, where you are, for $10 or less? $20 or less? $30 or less? $40 or less? $50 or less?

Don't forget to tell us where you are.

750 ml bottle, price on the shelf (exclusive of added taxes).

If you want to do it for ryes too, be my guest.

[Clavius]

I'm in Lexington, KY. Here's my list:

$10 or less - Heaven Hill BIB White Label ($9.29)

$20 or less - OWA ($19.79)

$30 or less - Weller 12 ($24.99)

$40 or less - Knob Creek Single Barrel (about $35, I think)

$50 or less - Blanton's ($49.99)

[JPBoston]

In Glendale, AZ -

Under $10: Evan Williams Black -- $9.99 ($14.49 for a handle)

Under $20: OWA -- $18.99

Under $30: Knob Creek -- $27.99 (but OGD 114 at $21.99 and BT at $22.99 get honorable mention)

Under $40: 4RSmB was about $32 I believe, but is on sale for $29.99 right now so I may be 'cheating' on that.

Under $50: ORVW 107 -- $44.99 (though overpriced, imo)

I prefer the $20-$30 range thus far. Seems to be the point of diminishing returns, for my tastes. I haven't had any BTAC yet though (among others), so I still have some learnin' to do.

Edited February 18, 2013 by JPBoston

[squire]

Currently residing in a small University town in NE Mississippi.

$10 or less - 86 proof Barton (case discount, of course)

$20 or less - 100 proof Old Grand Dad (actually less than $15 with a case discount).

I can't say what I might choose in the other price ranges because I see no reason to pay more than $15.00.

[Phil T]

I'm in Ohio, but I buy most of my bottles in KY or IN..

$10- Heaven Hill BIB 6yr... $9.99

$20- OWA TPS SB... $18.90 when you buy a case//// Mellow Corn.. $19.69 for the family size

$30- FRSB TPS... $28.50 when you buy a case////Ritt BIB $21.99

$40- ORVW 107... $39.99

$50- any of the many FRSB private barreling I've had from TPS or Kahn's.... $49.99

Of course there are many others, especially in the $30 or less price point, that I really enjoy and drink regularly. The ones listed are my favorite

Edited February 19, 2013 by Phil T

[thiemb]

In Chicago

$10 or less - I don't think I've ever bought a $10 or less 750ml bottle in Chicago. Very Old Barton 90 is probably the closest.

$20 or less - Larceny (does it still count if I only know of one place where its under $20?)

$30 or less - Weller 12

$40 or less - Four Roses Single Barrel

$50 or less - Rock Hill Farms

[msk2718]

In Chicago...

<$10: Benchmark Old Number 8 ($9.99)

$10.01-$20: shhh...* ($13.99)

$20.01-$30: Knob Creek ($29.99)

$30.01-$40: WTRB ($39.99)

$40.01-$50: WTKS ($49.99)

*VOB BIB

[WAINWRIGHT]

In the Quad Cities

Under $10-HH BIB Blk/Gld Lbl. $9.99

Under $20-OGD 114 $18.99 on sale,I always stock up at that price!:grin:

Under $30-W12 $26.99

Under $40-ORVW 10 107 $35.98 lowest price I saw this year,yes it sucks!

Under $50-Binny's FRSB OBSK and the last RHF I had as well at $45.99 thrown in for good luck!

[smknjoe]

Houston:

$10 - Barton

$20 - Buffalo Trace (19)

$30 - OGD 114 or EWSB or maybe OWA (21, 27, 25)

$40 - Elmer T. Lee ...hands down (33)

$50 - Jefferson's Reserve is the only under 50 over 40 I've had in a while. I'm sure there are many I haven't tried.

You guys that posted the Old Rip 10 - can you get that pretty regularly? Haven't seen it around here in a few years.

[jcg9779]

Under $20-OGD 114 $18.99 on sale,I always stock up at that price!:grin:

I'd buy it by the case!

Under $40-ORVW 10 107 $35.98 lowest price I saw this year,yes it sucks!

Way to rub it in, Ryan. $49.99 here in ATL.

[OscarV]

I'm in Lexington, KY. Here's my list:

$10 or less - Heaven Hill BIB White Label ($9.29)

$20 or less - OWA ($19.79)

$30 or less - Weller 12 ($24.99)

$40 or less - Knob Creek Single Barrel (about $35, I think)

$50 or less - Blanton's ($49.99)

Sounds like Lexington is the place to be.

[MyOldKyDram]

I'm in Lexington, KY. Here's my list:

$10 or less - Heaven Hill BIB White Label ($9.29)

$20 or less - OWA ($19.79)

$30 or less - Weller 12 ($24.99)

$40 or less - Knob Creek Single Barrel (about $35, I think)

$50 or less - Blanton's ($49.99)

Substitute the W12 for 4R 1B, and the Blantons for RHF and you've got my list.

[ethangsmith]

Manheim, Pennsylvania- the land of limited selection via the government owned "State Stores"

$10 or less- I have plenty of personal favorites, but they are not available in PA! Closest thing would be Heaven Hill white label.

$20 or less- Ezra Brooks black label 90

$30 or less- Elijah Craig 12

$40 or less- Wild Turkey Rare Breed or Knob Creek Rye

$50 or less- Again, not in PA. Maybe Booker's if you're into rocket fuel in a wood box....

[Phil T]

Chuck, you've started this thread and the apocalypse thread this month, but have not contributed your own thoughts..What say you??

[Yeti]

Charleston, WV

$10 - I'm a little embarrassed to say I've never bought any local bottles under $10, but I always pick up a few HH 6yr BIB when I'm in KY. I'll have to get something from the bottom shelf this week and see what happens.

$20 - Elijah Craig 12 is $19.99 around the corner year round. Used to be closer to $15.

$30 - Buffalo Trace at around $26.99

$40 - Maybe Knob Creek Single Barrel? $36.99 or so. Can also find FR1B and Baker's sometimes under $40.

$50 - Booker's at $45.99 no question. I try to always keep one at the house.

It should be noted that, at least at the moment, we have no OGD BIB or 114, no OWA or W12. One store has WSR for $25, $10 more than in KY. Very few of the big "value" pours, but we do have very low prices on a few things like EC12 and Booker's. Also some pretty great scotch prices, occasionally.

[michaelturtle1]

Kennett Square PA, pretty much where PA, DE , and MD connect

$10 or less- ND Old Taylor $8.99 and more available than the current stuff

$20 or less- WSR $15.99

$30 or less- WT 101 rye $23.99 still widely available in DE

$40 or less- honestly do not have one

$50 or less- High West Rendezvous $49.99 and tax free at one of my favorite haunts

[TheOakMonster]

Central NY

<$10: none available

<$20: Old Grand Dad 100

<$30: Elijah Craig 12

<$40: Wild Turkey Rare Breed

<$50: Blanton's (?) Price might be over $50 these days in NY

[HighInTheMtns]

I am in Salt Lake; these prices apply to every store in Utah. I am including only bottles that are readily available.

<$10: Three things here are available for less than ten bucks: Old Crow, Old Crow Reserve, and Evan Williams Green. The winner in this category is Evan Williams Green Label for $8.99, but I don't buy it.

<$20: Not many more things are available for under twenty. My choice is Evan Williams Black Label, which actually qualifies for the <$10 category this month 'cause it's on sale. Regular price is $11.99.

<$30: I was surprised when I actually looked at the list. There's not many more choices here either anymore. The winner for me is Buffalo Trace at $24.95 although Elijah Craig 12 at $22.99 is an extremely close second and my opinion might change with the next bottle of either.

<$40: The winner here for me is Wild Turkey Rare Breed at $34.99. I think Knob Creek at $33.99 is also a good choice.

<$50: My choice here is Wild Turkey Rare Breed. This category does add Blanton's at $49.95, but I will take Rare Breed over that. Booker's at $53.14 (yes $53.14) just misses this price range but I'd still take WTRB.

This was interesting. I was working from the state price list - I have a lot of bourbon already and I get a lot of it outside the state, so I don't buy these things here too often. I'm envious of you guys who can get OWA for less than $20 (or at all!) The main thing I took from this was that prices are increasing. I was really surprised at the things I expected to fall under $30 but ended up being in the under $40 category. Another couple observations: my choice of WTRB might well change whenever the new batch shows up... we'll see how that turns out. Heaven Hill offers great value. And I'm really glad that I have opportunities to get whiskey elsewhere.

[Josh]

$10 - Evan Williams BiB

$20 - VOB 90

$30 - Lots of good ones in this range: Elijah Craig 12, Old Grandad 114, Bowman Bros, OWA

$40 - Four Roses Single Barrel

$50 -Old Rip 107

I did a similar thing on my blog here: http://sipology.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/my-two-ounces-my-favorite-bourbons-under%e2%80%a6/

Edited February 19, 2013 by Josh

[Brisko]

Minneapolis/St Paul

<$10 - Old Heaven Hill 8 year, 86 proof. Quality is way up on this lately

<$20 - EC12 or Old Forester Signature

<$30 - OWA, OGD 114 and 4RSmB (all actually under $25)

<$40 - Knob Single Barrel

<$50 - Booker's (or RHF for the Beam haters)

Edited February 19, 2013 by Brisko

[T Comp]

I'll use current Binny's pricing as they dominate the market here in Chicago and everything's listed on their site.

$10-None...the only 2 listed at $9.99 are Zackariah Harris and Benchmark 8 at $9.99. HH 90 proof 6 year bought in Kentucky is what I drink.

$20-Barton 6 year BIB

$30-OWA

$40-FRSB

$50-Booker's because I wouldn't pay the $49.99 for the current WTKS and Rare Breed is in the under $40 and loses to 4R.

[petrel800]

Atlanta, GA

Under $10 - Larceny ($19.99 - $10 Rebate, still have a couple local family members left to get the rebate)

Under $20 - AAA 10YR TPS ($18.99 - I travel a lot to Cincinnati, so I bring enough back to last between trips, shipping knocks it up into the next category)

Under $30 - Elmer T Lee ($26.99) close, close 2nd - Weller 12 (Typically I see it for $23.99 or $24.99 around town)

Under $40 - Four Roses Single Barrel (last bottle I bought in Atlanta was $34, but I see it around here from $38 to $42 typically)

Under $50 - I suppose I would put Rock Hill Farms (49.99) here, but I don't buy much in this price range, definitely some diminished value here. Typically I'll pass on this category and throw in an additional $20-$30 for some of the higher end releases.

[White Dog]

Under $10: Dixie Dew for $9.99. (Yeah, not a Bourbon.)

Under $20: Old Ezra 7yr for $16.99.

Under $30: OGD 114 for $21-$24.

Under $40: FR1B.

Under $50: Lot B

[Smokewagon]

$10 or less - Evan Williams Black

$20 or less - Weller 107

$30 or less - Tie: Larceny or OGD 114 (Both low to mid 20's)

$40 or less - Weller 12 (It's actually low to mid 30's around here! - if you can find it)

$50 or less - Weller 12 (I can't think of anything under $50, I'd rather have than Weller 12, over $50 is a different story.)

Edited February 19, 2013 by Smokewagon

[JPBoston]

$10 or less - Evan Williams Black

$20 or less - Weller 107

$30 or less - Tie: Larceny or OGD 114 (Both low to mid 20's)

$40 or less - Weller 12 (It's actually low to mid 30's around here! - if you can find it)

$50 or less - Weller 12 (I can't think of anything under $50, I'd rather have than Weller 12, over $50 is a different story.)