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

[sob0728]

Twin Cities

<$10: Heaven Hill 8/86 $9.99

<$20: Buffalo Trace $17.99 or Maker's $19.99

<$30: Baker's $26.99 or WT Rare Breed $29.99

<$40: 4RSB $34.99 or WT Kentucky Spirit $37.99

<$50: Don't normally buy in this range, last year it was Lot B $49.99, went up to $59.99 this year though.

Edited February 19, 2013 by sob0728

[ER07]

Chicago suburbs

<$10 - n/a

<$20 - OGD BIB

<$30 - Elmer T Lee

<$40 - Maker's 46

<$50 - Bookers

[smokinjoe]

I've tried, and tried, and tried, but I just can't answer this question definitively. :crazy: I have too many "bests", particularly in the <$20 to <$30 categories. But, I did have a revelation! Which made me feel really good. And that is, my choices in the higher categories like the <$40 and particularly the <$50 segments, were very limited. I did not include the one-offs and special releases, like PHC, BTAC, etc. After those, not much to choose from. But, I had dozens of choices I could select in the other, lower categories. So...Yey, US!!!!! :woohoo: Even though we've seen some price creep, we still have a great bargain with high quality whiskies in the bourbon aisle...

What a cathartic thread...

[Cigar Dan]

South Louisiana

<$10 Evan Williams BIB (White Label)

<$20 Weller 12

<$30 4R SmB

<$40 Wild Turkey Rare Bird

<$50 4R SB (TPS Private Barrel) OESQ is my current favorite

[Lazer]

NYC boroughs of queens and brooklyn.

<$10 I don't think any exists. EWB is at least $12 for a 750ml If you find one, usually at least in 1L bottles for $15 or so.

<$20 WT101 at $19.99

<$30 Ritt BIB either $21 or $23. Dickel no. 12 @ $25. (Larceny was $32 for a 1L haven't seen the 750ml.)

<$40 FR1B $39.99 (I'm not sure if I can find it at the price anymore so I'll add the soon to be dusty WTRB 108 proof at $34.99)

<$50 Either the FR1B which I think is kicked up to $43. Or KC1B @$45.

Edited February 20, 2013 by Lazer
KC1B

[JB64]

<$10 EWB when on sale

<$20 BT

<$30 EC12

<$40 4R SmB

<$50 Bookers

What would your selections be Charles?

Edited February 20, 2013 by JB64

[jeffrey r]

Do most of my bourbon buying in the NYC suburbs of New Jersey, but also do an occasional purchase from some Manhattan stores like Astor.

Under $10: Don't really go there.

Under $20: WSR, with Ritt BIB or Old Ezra 7yr/101 honorable mention. Since this is a "where you are" thread, I can't include the VOB BIB and AAA 10 Yr that I picked up from TPS.

Under $30: I feel spoiled to be able to put FR1B in this price category, but since it is, that is my choice. This range seems to be my sweet spot though, as I could easily put OGD 114, ETL, OWA and W12 as my choice and be perfectly content.

Under $40: No clear choice, so most of my under $30 choices would likely qualify here as well.

Under $50: Blanton's, and when I am able to find it, Lot B. I have a Noah's Mill at $43 that I haven't cracked open yet, which might enter into the mix.

[humchan2k]

I already did this thread before...what's the best under X...just sayin'.

Here in LA:

<$10 - I don't really drink bourbon that's this cheap....sorry? I prefer to get weird, cheap dusties around town for $15 or so when it comes to botttom shelf.

<$20 - Rye: Bulleitt Rye at Trader Joe's, $19.99. Bourbon: BT, $19.99 at K&L. Best buy in LA.

<$30 - Rye: Rittenhouse, $24, Bourbon: Still BT for me, surprisingly.

<$40 - Rye: Willett SB, $36-38, Bourbon: 4R SB - $39.99, but typically prefer K&L releases that cost more cuz I'm lucky enough to have K&L.

<$50 - Rye: High West Rendezvous ALL day at $48, Bourbon: Tie between Blanton's & RHF, $45-50/each.

Edited February 20, 2013 by humchan2k

[smokinjoe]

I already did this thread before...what's the best under X...just sayin'.

[Beer&Bourbon]

Cincinnati/ NKy

<$10 Heaven Hill 6yo BiB

<$20 VOB BiB ($13) or OWA on sale ~$19

<$30 OWA ($22)

<$40 4R standard SB ($32) / ORVW 107 ($35)

<$50 4R OESK SB ($49.99)

[RT Fan]

Prices are a little steep here in NYC:

<$20 Four Roses Yellow label @ $19.99

<$30 Old Weller Antique @ $25.99

<$40 Elmer T. Lee @ $32.99

Rookie of the year Larceny @ $32.99

Bargain Rye: Rittenhouse BIB @ $22.99

Bang for the Buck: Mellow Corn @ $13.99

[BigRich]

I've tried, and tried, and tried, but I just can't answer this question definitively. :crazy: I have too many "bests", particularly in the <$20 to <$30 categories. But, I did have a revelation! Which made me feel really good. And that is, my choices in the higher categories like the <$40 and particularly the <$50 segments, were very limited. I did not include the one-offs and special releases, like PHC, BTAC, etc. After those, not much to choose from. But, I had dozens of choices I could select in the other, lower categories. So...Yey, US!!!!! :woohoo: Even though we've seen some price creep, we still have a great bargain with high quality whiskies in the bourbon aisle...

What a cathartic thread...

feel better now?

[GaryT]

From Atlanta, GA, my list would be:

$10 or less: Evan Williams Black ($9.99)

$20 or less: Wild Turkey 101 ($19.99) (but only because I don't have a bottle of Fighting Cock @ $16.49 to compare against; only tasted it once but was impressed!)

$30 or less: Tie between Elmer T Lee ($26.99) and Knob Creek ($27.99)

$40 or less: Four Roses Single Barrel ($34.99)

$50 or less: Bookers ($46.99)

[CoMobourbon]

Great thread. I really think that geography is the most interesting component here. So often we talk about values and corresponding drinking habits without taking varying prices into account.

In Columbia, Missouri (100,000+ inhabitants college town)

Best Bourbon...

Under $10: EWB at $9.99, $18.99 for a handle

Under $20: WSR at $16.99

Under $30: EC 12 at $25.99 (this is hard; so many bourbons I would expect at $20 come in at considerably over $20)

Under $40: FR1B at $39.99

Under $50: Booker's at $49.99 (sometimes), although really I want to say FR1B again here

Edited February 23, 2013 by CoMobourbon

[CoMobourbon]

Slight revision (refinement?) of the premise: Best VALUE IN BOURBON in Columbia, Missouri...

Under $10: still EWB

Under $20: EW BIB at $11.99 OR FRY at $12.99

Under $30: OGD 114 at $22.99

Under $40: still FR1B

Under $50: ?

[Kodiak]

North Carolina:

Under $10: nothing worth drinking

Under $20: OGD BIB

Under $30: OWA

Under $40: FR1B when you can find it

Under $50: ORVW10 when you can get it

[OscarV]

North Carolina:

Under $10: nothing worth drinking

Under $20: OGD BIB

Under $30: OWA

Under $40: FR1B when you can find it

Under $50: ORVW10 when you can get it

Made it easy for me, that's MI line up also.

[Josh]

Just realized EW BiB is over $10 here. So change mine to "nothing worth drinking" too.

[cowdery]

Chicago

$10 -- Benchmark

$20 -- Four Roses Yellow Label

$30 -- Weller 12 (this is the sweet spot, lots of honorable mentions)

$40 -- Wild Turkey Rare Breed

$50 -- Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

I did this using Binny's online listing and surprised myself in a couple of cases.

[LCWoody]

Southwest Louisiana

$10--EW BIB (white label)

$20--OGD 114 (sometimes its $20.95)

$30--Henry Mckenna 10/y BIB

$40--FRSB

$50--Noahs Mill, Bookers, and when it's out Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

I kind of like the high proof bourbons!!

[Max Power]

$10 - Evan Williams Black

$20 - OGD 100 or WT 101

$30 - WT Rare Breed ($29.99), Baker's ($27.77) or Knob Creek SB ($28.88) - Both unreal prices and two of my favorites. Jefferson 15 year is honorable mention on clearance at one place at $29.99

$40 - Four Roses Single Barrel or Michter's

$50 - Not enough experience up here to have a "favorite"

My wheelhouse is in that $30 range. It has some of my favorites and it just seems like a good price to pay for a great bourbon.

[jeffrey r]

My wheelhouse is in that $30 range. It has some of my favorites and it just seems like a good price to pay for a great bourbon.

That $30 range is my wheelhouse as well, but it'd be even moreso if I had KCSB and WTRB in that range. Those are both around $40 by me, let alone the Jefferson 15 which is around $50. Well done out there in MN...

[CoMobourbon]

Yeah, seriously. $29 for KCSB or $30 for WTRB definitely caught my attention.

[Max Power]

That $30 range is my wheelhouse as well, but it'd be even moreso if I had KCSB and WTRB in that range. Those are both around $40 by me, let alone the Jefferson 15 which is around $50. Well done out there in MN...

The Jefferson's is at Hi Time (so not really local). The price dropped by $20. I assume they're trying to clear it out.

The WTRB can vary from $30-44. I bought my last one for $32 (with a $5 off coupon for a $27 total ). The KCSB and Bakers prices are a constant at a place called Morelli's which has some of the cheapest stuff out there if they have it. BT for $17, JDSB for $34. It's been a while since I've been there, but if they have it...they have the best price.

[The Boozer]

Guess I need to jump in here

under $10: zip

<$20: OGD BiB

<$30: Bulleit (like the high rye flavor)

<$40: ORVW 10yr 107

<$50: KC Reserve (although I know I can get it for around $36 @ TPS)

Not alot of choices in the $40-$50 range in MI.

PS: Josh where are you finding EW BiB in this neck of the woods? PM me please Thanks