Best Value Right Now?

[Beer Taster America]

Hi there.  It's my first post.  I know this question has been beaten to death before.  But prices are always changing and quality can change too over the years.  I'm wondering about right now in December 2015.  What's the best quality "cheap" bourbon you see on the shelves?  By cheap i mean less than $15 for a 750ml bottle or less than $30 for a 1.75liter bottle.  In my neck of the woods (Phoenix area) I have been drinking Old Charter 8 year (marked 8 years) at $12.99 for 750ml and Evan Williams 1783 at $26.99 for 1.75liter bottle.  I know there are cheaper options out there like EW Black or JB White, but I'm talking about bourbons that are smoother and a step up in quality.  Any "cheap" bourbons out there these days that are pretty good?  Thanks!

[The Black Tot]

How cheap do you need!? You are already drinking pretty affordably right now.

If your max budget is $15, stay where you are - you've found some good ones already.

Anything made by Heaven Hill or Buffalo Trace should work well for you. But avoid Ancient Age or Ancient Age Preferred. If you can find Ancient Age 10* that's different. Get that.

By going to the $22 range you can really expand your horizons. At that price point you can buy things that are 107 (Old Weller Antique) and 114 (OGD114) proof, which is nearly the same cost as your 15 buckers when you factor in the increased concentration of the whiskey. Things taste richer at higher proof. Try and find some lower cost 100 proof Bottled In Bond options and see the difference between that and the stuff down at 80-86 proof that tends to be on the bottom shelf.

Good luck

[GaryT]

I'll echo what Paul said - I like Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star if you can find it - that is probably my favorite pour in that price range.  Another is Old Ezra 7yr 101.  If you're looking for smooth though, if you can find Weller Special Reserve - it is $15 or less around Atlanta, and is pretty smooth.  But I would pick up some 50 mL bottles of things just a step up.  Not that you can't find good bourbon in that range, but you might decide that a couple bucks more is well wort it.  Or - confirm you're where you want to be! 

Good luck!

[b1gcountry]

Definitely give ew bib (white)a shot at around $12 a fifth for 100 proof.

Also ogd probably comes in around 16,but ogd bib is better but $2 or 3 more
I want to try benchmark from by to

 

 

 

[starhopper]

I think that if you're willing to spend an extra $8, then Buffalo Trace Bourbon is one of the smoothest bourbons out there around $23.00. It's readily available, and money well spent.

While I do drink the WL Weller Special Reserve  ($12.99 for 750ml), I have do disagree with "Guru" and say that it is not a particularly smooth drink - it has a wonderful flavor, but there is a "bite" to it all the way thru in my opinion.

Edited December 8, 2015 by starhopper

[Flyfish]

You are asking for price recommendations from people who live all over the world. Bourbon that is inexpensive in some places is not available at all in others. Heaven Hill 6YO BIB, for example, is a great value but not widely distributed. With that said, OGD BIB is worth the price just about everywhere and available just about everywhere. Costco's Kirkland brand is about $20/L which works out to about $15/750. It's a 7 YO Beam product at 103 proof so you are getting good band--and good flavor--for your buck.

[b1gcountry]

Benchmark from BT was what I meant to type

[Swoboda]

Four Roses Yellow Label is mighty good and can be found in your price range . . . especially when it is on sale.

[O'DubhGhaill]

Welcome!  I've tried Charter 8 (aged for eight seasons, according to the label I had, not eight years) and I simply did not like it one bit, so no matter how inexpensive, it will never be a value purchase for me.  That said, I find Evan Williams Black Label (EWB) extremely hard to beat in value ($23 for a 1.75L) and IMHO, better tasting than the EW1783.  Moving up slightly in price from there, the Evan Williams White Label (EWBiB) and Old Granddad Bottled in Bond (OGDBiB) are outstanding values as well.

Enjoy the Journey!

[Paddy]

All great replies above!  Don't forget about VOB BIB, if available in your area...

[Thi nguyen]

Old grand dad 114 proof ..like other refer . Still one of my favorite 

[bullitt]

Very Old Barton in VA 1.75L for $23.99 is hard to beat. Unfortunately here it's only available in 86 proof. The 750ml I would say is EW 1783 just under at $14.99. The Benchmark #8 is cheaper at $10.99 but I've never tried it.

[Beer Taster America]

Wow thanks for all the advice!  I will definitely have to try some of these bourbons.  I'm on a budget right now so I'm trying to stay at the inexpensive level with bourbon.  I know there are some great bourbons out there for a little bit more money but I'll have to sample those down the road someday.

[s8ist]

If we go by math, $15 for 750ml (at 80 proof) equates to $0.188 per point of proof.  By that reasoning, JTS Brown BIB or OGD 114.

Plenty of good options in the BIB territory.

[tdwester]

One I really like in the sub-15 is JW Dant another great BIB. I do love my 1783 always have a bottle open. 

[Xevious]

There are several bottled in bond whiskies that are in the sub 20 range. And while the price varies depending on location, Old Grand Dad 114 is a tremendous value - it's around $20 here and near barrel proof.

I'm extremely frugal as well, but I'll always send a couple extra dollars to get 100 proof or greater.

[shoshani]

On 12/8/2015, 7:04:54, Beer Taster America said:

Wow thanks for all the advice!  I will definitely have to try some of these bourbons.  I'm on a budget right now so I'm trying to stay at the inexpensive level with bourbon.  I know there are some great bourbons out there for a little bit more money but I'll have to sample those down the road someday.

There are a lot of good, first-choice bourbons around for $25 and under. $20 and under in many places, but Chicago is not one of them. 

There's an apt advertising slogan that was used decades ago for a long-defunct whiskey (Old Quaker Rye) made by a long-defunct distillery (Schenley): "You don't have to be rich to enjoy rich whiskey". This is still true; you can get fantastic bourbons at really decent prices. And can still enjoy an older expression now and then, as or if budgets permit. But for all the hype that certain high priced bourbons get these days, you really and truly aren't missing anything if they aren't in your rotation. I probably can't stress that enough. Bourbon is at its neighborly best in its more plebian expressions, which are meant to be drunk and enjoyed rather than sitting like a trophy in a display case. 

[Beer Taster America]

Glad to see this thread is still going.

Last two 1.75 liter bottles I've purchased have been Evan Williams Black. I can buy it for $15.49 at the nearby mega liquor store chain.  I've been real happy with EW black. Its a little rough around the edges, but its damn good whiskey.  I can't  find a better value, and will probably keep buying tnose 1.75 liter bottles for the foreseeable future.

[fozzy71]

Man, I really need to move south.  All the prices mentioned in this thread are 30 - 50% cheaper than here in MI.  :/

[kjbeggs]

I see Larceny on sale for under $20 quite often. We can't use them in Texas, but there's usually $5 off coupons to be had as well.

 

[Grain Belt]

Just got some Dant for $14.99 a L, WT101 1.75L for $29.99, Jim Beam BIB L for $19.99 and EWBIB for $22.99 for a 1.75.  I am going to be sipping well this winter.  I enjoy all four of these immensely and would never feel under dressed at any social function with any of them.  If a guy would turn his nose on any of these four it would leave more for those of us in the know!  I don't have any in the bunker right now but would add OGDBIB to my list to purchase next.  I love the bondeds or those that are closely related.  Give me something 4-8 years old at 100 proof and put on some Neil Young on the stereo and you will see a big ol' boy with a big smile on his face, tapping his toe and taking a pull. 

[kaiserhog]

I look for bottled in bond whiskey, also Four Roses Yellow Barrel.

[b1gcountry]

I turn my nose up at wt101 slightly because I just don't care for that particular profile. It has always tasted kinda off to me. I guess that isn't exactly turning my nose up at it, but I usually pass.

I have no issues with the last two, but we don't get dant here...
At the point I'm at in life, I drink so little and make enough that anything under $35-40 doesn't really tip the scales for me.

 

[starhopper]

23 minutes ago, b1gcountry said:

At the point I'm at in life, I drink so little and make enough that anything under $35-40 doesn't really tip the scales for me.

Not even Old Grand Dad BIB 100 or ol' Elmer T.????

Edited January 26, 2016 by starhopper

[Louisiana]

I think the value of ECBP is even bigger now.

It will be HH's only 12 year going forward for now.

It's available, high quality, barrel proof, and HH is saying there will be more.

And price. I've paid between $45-$55. Last bottle being $51.

Just sayin!

Edited January 26, 2016 by Louisiana
Price