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

[higgins]

This is for Maryland, where I do most of my bourbon purchasing:

<$10 - Benchmark (by default)

<$20 - OGD BIB (although anything that says Bottled in Bond on the label will do)

<$30 - Knob Creek

<$40 - Four Roses Single Barrel

<$50 - Blanton's

[Balcones Winston]

$10 no idea

$20 OGD 114 (I have bought it this cheap)

$30, $40, $50 4R1B

[Balcones Winston]

Changed my mind, best $10 bourbon is a pint of OWA

[JLH3]

Phoenix, AZ

Under $20 - OWA

Under $30 - Weller 12

Under $40 - 4RSmB

Under $50 - Either ORVW 107 (or Willett 4 yr Rye)

[Enoch]

$10< VOB 90 proof (only one available in SC)

$20< FR Yellow or WSR

$30< OWA or FRSB

$40< FR1B

$50< Not sure...not many in this range...they seem to jump to $60+ after passing $40.

You may be able to tell I am partial to FR for my ryes and Wellers for my wheats. All of these are always open. VOB is the cheapest thing I can drink neat.

[Diesel]

Central NJ

<$10 n/a

<$20 Old Grand Dad 100 BiB ($19.95)

<$30 Elijah Craig 12yo Hand Picked By Spirits Unlimited ($25.39), Elmer T. Lee ($29.99)

<$40 Black Maple Hill ($37.95) Knob Creek SB ($35.95)

<$50 ORVW ($44.95)

[weller_tex]

Houston area..

<$10 None..closest is VOB 86 at around $12

~<=$20 OGD 114..$20.89

<$30 Weller 12 $27.38 for a Liter

<$40 Four Roses Single Barrel $34.78

<$50 Booker's $43.69

[clindt]

DFW area

<$10 - I'm not sure I've seen any under $10. This will be my new quest.

<$20 - Jim Beam Black - $19.99

<$30 - Eagle Rare Single Barrel - $28.99. This is where my bourbon playground usually is($20-$30). There are so many good choices here.

<$40 - WT Rare Breed - $36.99

<$50 - Blanton's - $52.99 (a little over) or Booker's - $48.99

[cowdery]

I wonder if, after doing this, you'll be more likely to buy your choice when you have that amount to spend. Will some other products you used to buy fall out? Will you be more likely, if you're Clindt above, to always buy Eagle Rare Single Barrel when you have $30 to spend? And only consider something else if ERSB isn't there, or you're sick of it? Does thinking of your favorite bourbons this way change your buying habits at all?

[weller_tex]

I wonder if, after doing this, you'll be more likely to buy your choice when you have that amount to spend. Will some other products you used to buy fall out? Will you be more likely, if you're Clindt above, to always buy Eagle Rare Single Barrel when you have $30 to spend? And only consider something else if ERSB isn't there, or you're sick of it? Does thinking of your favorite bourbons this way change your buying habits at all?

I almost always stay in sweet spot of OGD 114 and Weller 12. Frankly OGD 114 is better than Booker's (don't tell Beam that..). Weller 12 is just so hard to beat. I have bought Larceny a couple of times to mix it up and will splurge on a 4R, but I pretty much stay in that sweet spot.

[clindt]

I wonder if, after doing this, you'll be more likely to buy your choice when you have that amount to spend. Will some other products you used to buy fall out? Will you be more likely, if you're Clindt above, to always buy Eagle Rare Single Barrel when you have $30 to spend? And only consider something else if ERSB isn't there, or you're sick of it? Does thinking of your favorite bourbons this way change your buying habits at all?

To answer you question, I always have ERSB available. As long as I haven't emptied my bottle of ERSB, I will pick up whatever catches my eye. I will probably always keep on hand my <$30, <$40 and <$50 because I like them so much, but variety is the spice of life and I like having several bourbons in each category to choose from.

I did find one <$10 bourbon today, Benchmark. It is, meh. I guess I'll have to add it to my list a a default, since it is the only Straight Bourbon available to me under $10 ($9.99).

[GaryT]

I wonder if, after doing this, you'll be more likely to buy your choice when you have that amount to spend. Will some other products you used to buy fall out? Will you be more likely, if you're Clindt above, to always buy Eagle Rare Single Barrel when you have $30 to spend? And only consider something else if ERSB isn't there, or you're sick of it? Does thinking of your favorite bourbons this way change your buying habits at all?

Being the complete nerd/dork that I am, and realizing that availability/pricing differs by market - I started putting together a spreadsheet so I could look at this thread like a poll. Not scientific, or even accurate (since some posts were more specific than others, ie - ORVW 107 which could be the 10 or 12 yr), and some folks listed multiples that were tied (which I picked the first they listed since . . . well, it's MY analysis, so there!) I also had to combine the various store bottling versions (so 4RSB whether from TPS or someplace else all got added together).

Everyone's taste differ, not to mention what is available to them locally, but I wanted to see what got the most hits in each category - as that might make me consider buying something (or trying something again) that I wouldn't ordinarily buy. Just because I tried something and didn't like it once doesn't mean I won't like it the second time since our tasters are so freaking variable.

While there are no winners or losers, it definitely highlighted that those who participated have a LOT of respect for 4RSB. In the $40 or less category, almost half of those who responded picked it, where there wasn't near that kind of consensus in any other category. No other bourbon had higher than 26% of responses in their category. And - it prompted me to add OGD BIB to my "must try" list!

[clindt]

Being the complete nerd/dork that I am, and realizing that availability/pricing differs by market - I started putting together a spreadsheet so I could look at this thread like a poll. Not scientific, or even accurate (since some posts were more specific than others, ie - ORVW 107 which could be the 10 or 12 yr), and some folks listed multiples that were tied (which I picked the first they listed since . . . well, it's MY analysis, so there!) I also had to combine the various store bottling versions (so 4RSB whether from TPS or someplace else all got added together).

Everyone's taste differ, not to mention what is available to them locally, but I wanted to see what got the most hits in each category - as that might make me consider buying something (or trying something again) that I wouldn't ordinarily buy. Just because I tried something and didn't like it once doesn't mean I won't like it the second time since our tasters are so freaking variable.

While there are no winners or losers, it definitely highlighted that those who participated have a LOT of respect for 4RSB. In the $40 or less category, almost half of those who responded picked it, where there wasn't near that kind of consensus in any other category. No other bourbon had higher than 26% of responses in their category. And - it prompted me to add OGD BIB to my "must try" list!

I'd be interested to see your "analysis". I've never given the FR line much thought; I've bought a bottle of the regular FR and was not too impressed. I did have some FR1B at a bar and remember thinking it was good, but didn't really give it the attention I could at home. Maybe I should explore the FR line a little more.

[CoMobourbon]

I wonder if, after doing this, you'll be more likely to buy your choice when you have that amount to spend. Will some other products you used to buy fall out? Will you be more likely, if you're Clindt above, to always buy Eagle Rare Single Barrel when you have $30 to spend? And only consider something else if ERSB isn't there, or you're sick of it? Does thinking of your favorite bourbons this way change your buying habits at all?

Ultimately, yes. Right now I am still in a formative bourbon period, so I am still trying things out and establishing preferences. Ultimately, though, I have been more satisfied with some purchases (in terms of value) than others. Especially given my tendency toward brand loyalty in other areas, yeah, I could see myself drinking mostly four or five bourbons on a regular basis. (Too early to say which ones, but EWBIB, FRY, WSR, OGD 114, and FR1B seem like pretty strong front runners)

[black mamba]

< $10 = EW Black @ $9.99 (no HH white label available here)

< $20 = Rittenhouse Rye BIB @ $19.99

< $30 = Elijah Craig 12 @ $21.99

< $40 = Noah's Mill @ $34

< $50 = Rock Hill Farms @ $45

< $80 = Sazerac 18 @ $72

The only bottle of Pappy 20 I ever had was bought on vacation in Phoenix about 5 years ago for $84 + tax.

It took me 15 months to finish it . . . and I cried when I did.

[White Dog]

I'd be interested to see your "analysis". I've never given the FR line much thought; I've bought a bottle of the regular FR and was not too impressed. I did have some FR1B at a bar and remember thinking it was good, but didn't really give it the attention I could at home. Maybe I should explore the FR line a little more.

[clindt]

When you say "regular" 4R, I assume you mean Yellow Label at 80pr? Yes sir, get yourself a bottle of Single Barrel and explore it over a one month period.

It did not surprise me in the least that 4R1B was everyones' choice at that price point. I also expected to see lots of OGD and OWA, but 4R1B is one thing most of us agree on.

Yes, it was the Yellow Label 80pr. It's not that it was a bad pour, just lacked any distinction. I'll keep and eye out for FR1B and pick up a bottle.

[cowdery]

< $10 = EW Black @ $9.99 (no HH white label available here)

< $20 = Rittenhouse Rye BIB @ $19.99

< $30 = Elijah Craig 12 @ $21.99

< $40 = Noah's Mill @ $34

< $50 = Rock Hill Farms @ $45

< $80 = Sazerac 18 @ $72

The only bottle of Pappy 20 I ever had was bought on vacation in Phoenix about 5 years ago for $84 + tax.

It took me 15 months to finish it . . . and I cried when I did.

Lucky you. Those are all good prices.

[black mamba]

Lucky you. Those are all good prices.

I have a friend who works at a liquor store- I get 10% off everything.

[Borchard]

The only bottle of Pappy 20 I ever had was bought on vacation in Phoenix about 5 years ago for $84 + tax.

It took me 15 months to finish it . . . and I cried when I did.

[BillP]

Hope it's not too late to add to this.

under $20 - OWA

under $30 - Eagle Rare Single Barrel

under $40 - Four Roses Single Barrel

under $50 - Lot B

But this is not set in stone. So many choices, so little time.

[Bluffhunter]

Thought would bring this back for update if people have changes from new offerings available this year and to include under $60 with increase in prices.

Under $20- FR Yellow Label

Under $30 - BT or FRSmB alot of good ones maybe EWSB

Under $40 - WT rare breed

Under $50 - RR single barrel (have not tried Bookers yet or had WTKS)

Under $60 - Blantons now at $54.99 where I am at

[TunnelTiger]

The way pricing in my area is going there won't be a 750 bottle of Bourbon under $20 by the first day of spring or $30 by the end of summer.

It's going up quicker than gas or propane.

[393foureyedfox]

not much left to put in the sub $10 slot anymore.

the only thing there Id buy is HH 6 year, either the BIB or the green 90

[bourbonfoot]

I like this idea. I'm not sure I can do one in each though. I'll spread it out over a few brands.

Under $20 - OGB 100 $19

Under $30 - ET Lee $29

Under $40 - 4RSB $39

Under $50 - Bowman's Single Barrel $49

Under $60 - Lot B $54

These are MSRP for these, but besides Lot B I never buy these at list. I can usually get OGD 100 for $17, 4RSB for $36 or so.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk