Barely good enough to enhance daily living

[Flyfish]

A fellow did me a favor and I wanted to buy him a bottle of Scotch to say thanks. Asked his wife what he would like. She said, "Oh, he just drinks Passport." Now, I'm not a Scotch drinker and I know Passport only by reputation as a very bottom shelf libation. This fellow is retired Chief Corporate Counsel for a Fortune 500 company and can afford to drink anything he wants. So I bought him a Glenmorangie with a pair of rocks glasses.

Got me to thinking about bourbons that are just barely good enough to enhance daily living (Squire's phrase IIRC). I'm not talking about bourbon's that are actually quite good for the price such as OGD BIB, VOB BIB, or EW BIB (there might be a theme emerging here) but those that are "marginal" but you are still willing to consume regularly. Nominees?

[Darwin]

I can't think of a bourbon under $20 that I would drink or have in my home. BT is as low as I will go and FRSB is on the high end for me. There are several single malts that I will spend up to $100 on, but those are sipped and enjoyed with great appreciation.

"Life's to short to drink cheap beer."

[smokinjoe]

This one popped immediately into my head. 4R Yellow Label. I buy it from time to time when on sale. But, I find it to be just an OK sipper, having little body to stand up to ice or in a cocktail, and generally is plain "flat". It is my least favorite bourbon that I buy on somewhat of a regular basis.

[latech15]

I feel exactly that way about basil Hayden's. I find it completely uninspiring. 4RSmB is really close as well. I love the other 4 roses offerings though.

[petrel800]

I don't buy it, but have consumed Ancient Age and Benchmark in situations where it was all they had. It wasn't great, but it wasn't undrinkable.

None the less, I think with Bourbon you just don't have to go that high to get a top notch product. It's probably why there aren't many of these. $20-30 buys you some really good bourbon. In fact you could probably throw around quite a few more highly marketed higher tier bourbons that are barely good enough to enhance daily living.

[BigBoldBully]

pretty much all "blended" bourbons. among straights, barton 86pf, most 4 roses products, regular old forester, benchmark, old fitz prime, some bottles of RR10.

[Golzee]

Not technically bourbon, but, Early Times in my opinion is a very good whiskey for $15 a handle. Sure, it could be better...but I have had cheap spirits that are much, much worse.

[squire]

One definition of "good enough whisky" is if it was any better I couldn't afford it and if it was any worse I couldn't drink it.

[GAbiker]

I think EW BIB fits that bill. Not what I'd chose to have daily, but it's better than no bourbon at all....

[Paddy]

The cheapest bourbon I'll buy are the BIB's. Most of them will set me back anywhere between 10 and 20. Nothing 'barely good' about them though, as they'll hold up nicely against any boutique NDP labeled BS bottle any day of the week...

[Richnimrod]

I could name a fair number that may fit that description; but more than a few of 'em would be more expensive than a whole bunch of others that don't get a great deal of praise; and probably should.

Tastes being so subjective, and so variable from day to day, not to mention so quirky from person to person; I think it's a futile exercise to try and pigeon hole 'em this way.

All that said, I'll mention only one: Four Roses Yellow Label. I used to keep at least one on hand, but over the last few years I find I just don't reach for it. I vatted my last half-bottle away, about 2-years ago.

But, again, that's almost meaningless information, unless you know my tastes to be near-identical to yours.

[flahute]

Four Roses Yellow Label also popped into my head first. I always have one around. It's the only bourbon below 90 proof that I keep on hand and I pretty much only drink it when I have a hankerin' for an early afternoon pour on the weekend when I skipped lunch and I want to be mindful of the proof. It's the only bourbon at that low of a proof that tastes good (to me.)

Runner up goes to Old Charter "8". I generally only use it to vat with Stagg Jr. but it can fulfill that same role as the 4RYL mentioned above.

[dboland]

A couple mentioned fit the bill for me - 4RYL and Basil Hayden.

I have also found little to no value in Weller Special Reserve. It makes coke taste bad, IMO.

[smokinjoe]

A couple mentioned fit the bill for me - 4RYL and Basil Hayden.

I have also found little to no value in Weller Special Reserve. It makes coke taste bad, IMO.

WSR is another one on my no interest list, for the same reasons as I listed for the 4RYL.

[squire]

One that hasn't been mentioned, and I do so because one of my locals sells it, is AAA 10 Star.

[ken_mays]

One that hasn't been mentioned, and I do so because one of my locals sells it, is AAA 10 Star.

Just bought a fifth of it. Tastes like a younger Eagle Rare, lacking some complexity but no unpleasant notes. Very palatable for $13, but I think JWDBIB is a better buy.

[BigRich]

So are we looking for the PBR of bourbon here?

[VAGentleman]

Regular ole Virginia Gentleman comes to mind for me. Nothing too great but a decent enough bourbon if that's the only choice

[PaulO]

Back when I was starting out, I started at the bottom. Ten High used to be about the cheapest real bourbon you could buy. Now, it's a blend. Kentucky Tavern was another cheap bottom shelfer. Yellowstone also comes to mind. It had a cool label. I think there was even a 90 proof version. In my estimation, it tasted like vodka with a little juice from canned corn added. Old Charter 8 year, and Ancient Age 80 proof were not bad.

[unclebunk]

Back when I was starting out, I started at the bottom. Ten High used to be about the cheapest real bourbon you could buy. Now, it's a blend. Kentucky Tavern was another cheap bottom shelfer. Yellowstone also comes to mind. It had a cool label. I think there was even a 90 proof version. In my estimation, it tasted like vodka with a little juice from canned corn added. Old Charter 8 year, and Ancient Age 80 proof were not bad.

Now Ten High 10, that's another story. Very good bourbon if you can find it.

[CorvallisCracker]

It depends. Am I allowed to mix it with Coke?

[fishnbowljoe]

Most of y'all know me and my analogies. Well….

With regards to my fishing: "A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work." The same might possibly be said of bourbon vs other various liquors. "A bad bourbon is better than a good __________." Fill in the blank. Just sayin'. :grin:

Cheers! Joe

[Richnimrod]

With regards to my fishing: "A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work." The same might possibly be said of bourbon vs other various liquors. "A bad bourbon is better than a good __________." Fill in the blank. Just sayin'. :grin:

Cheers! Joe

Joey, my friend You have summed up the situation very well, indeedy. Thanx for that insight.... and for saying what most of think. HeeHee.

[CorvallisCracker]

Most of y'all know me and my analogies. Well….

With regards to my fishing: "A bad day of fishing beats a good day at work." The same might possibly be said of bourbon vs other various liquors. "A bad bourbon is better than a good __________." Fill in the blank. Just sayin'. :grin:

Cheers! Joe

I don't know, Joe. I've had some really bad bourbons.

I miss the puking smiley.

[fishnbowljoe]

I don't know, Joe. I've had some really bad bourbons.

I miss the puking smiley.

:puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke::puke: You mean this one? :slappin:

I've had some less than stellar bourbon's too Scott. Still, all in all, I'd most likely have a bourbon over anything else. Operative phrase there, most likely. Sometimes ya' just never know. :grin:

Cheers! Joe