Under $20 (and still not worth it)

[b1gcountry]

Ever since I was turned on to ewbib, I've been curious about that which lies on the bottom shelf. JB white is actually decent, but I'm sure there are some real garbage bottles down there too. What are those bottles for you that aren't good at any price? 

I've always been tempted by the ten high, and Kentucky tavern bottles on the bottom shelf for $8, but I don't really want to get stuck with them.

[ramblinman]

honestly if its straight bourbon whiskey its probably not going to be too bad. No guarantee that its going to be good, but at least two years of age and no NGS usually means its at least a serviceable mixer.

[Night Gallery]

While I am interested in knowing what everyone thinks is the worst bourbon being sold today, I am also very curious about opinions as to the worst bourbon anyone has ever sampled. For me, it was a bottle of Kentucky Gentleman that I tried many years ago that smelled and tasted like a monkey's behind (I'm using my imagination here, no actually monkey butt sniffing has occurred).  

[Flyfish]

I don't think I would spend much time or money on Old Crow or Rebel Yell--unless they have made some totally unnoticed turn around in the last 10 years or so.

[starhopper]

The worst I've had in my admittedly short time in this "hobby" was Troy and Sons "Blonde" Whiskey, by Asheville Distilling Company.  A few months back, paid $40 for the bottle based on a good rating by a reputable reviewer.  From the tip of my tongue, thru the back of my throat, it tasted like bland, dry hay to me.  Wife actually spit hers out.  The blandness and apparent lack of flavor is what struck me the most.  Poured the whole bottle down the sink.

Edited December 9, 2015 by starhopper

[atbat82]

Rebel Yell brings back some fun college memories. Not sure I'd drink the stuff today...

[s8ist]

As much as the HH 6yr is praised for being one of the best whiskeys under $10, I don't think I'll ever buy another bottle of it.

But by comparison, the worst whiskeys I have had weren't bottom shelf at all and one was priced at over $200 (thankfully I didn't buy that one).  These were so bad that I just couldn't drink them straight up and had to use them to mix with.

 

[Josh]

Heaven Hill Gold Label (80 proof version) and Benchmark are two of my least favorite lower shelfers. Vile IMHO.

Worst I ever had was Cleveland Black Bourbon. It's crime against humanity.

[O'DubhGhaill]

Ten High Ten, the blend, simply awful.

[flahute]

Johhny Drum Black Label. Awful. Tastes like wet cardboard. I gave it many chances over a year or so and couldn't take it any more so I poured out the last half of the bottle.

[miller542]

I pass on all american and canadian blends, Beam 8 Star, Ten High, misc canadian blends, etc.

Cheap bourbon specifically - Old Crow.  I will never touch this stuff ever again, just absolute swill.  The store couldn't pay me to take it home with me.  This coming from someone who likes pretty much all Beam products.  Old Crow Reserve, however, I've found is a better and cheaper replacement for Beam white label when mixing with coke.

[fishnbowljoe]

5 hours ago, O'DubhGhaill said:

Ten High Ten, the blend, simply awful.

Not calling you out or anything, just providing some info here. There are three variations of Ten High that I'm aware of. IIRC, the current Ten High is blended. They also had a straight bourbon, but I'm pretty sure it's not being made any more. The Ten High Ten was a ten year old straight bourbon. It's considered a dusty, and was actually pretty decent. It came in a metal container.

Joe

[Charlutz]

Michter's American whiskey. $40+ down the drain, figuratively, to become literally if it does not mix well with Coke or ginger ale. Tastes like the awful love child of spoiled maple syrup and bad whiskey. (Apologies for going over the $20 limit but all the talk of bad whiskey reminded me of this disaster on my bar.)

Edited December 11, 2015 by Charlutz

[Tony Santana]

Hudson Baby bourbon.  Yuck.  Made worse by its price.

[b1gcountry]

As the OP, I say you get bonus points for breaking the rules and going over 20 bucks

[RiverRat]

Rhetoric.  One taste and I gave the bottle to a local distillery to showcase the effects of being in wood too long.

[PaulO]

All the flavored "whiskey" and fake moonshine stuff is not worth it to me at any price.  Most of the 80 proof bottom shelf bourbons, I wouldn't choose to drink straight up.  

[Jace]

Bought a truly awful bourbon at Lidl once, just to try it. Now I stay away from any bottom-shelf that doesn't explicitly state(and in the exact order): "Straight Bourbon Whiskey".

I don't remember the name of the bottle, but they had put another word, or two, in between Straight, Bourbon, and whiskey. It tasted like cheap, colored vodka. 

Edited December 11, 2015 by Jace

[ramblinman]

5 hours ago, PaulO said:

All the flavored "whiskey" and fake moonshine stuff is not worth it to me at any price.  Most of the 80 proof bottom shelf bourbons, I wouldn't choose to drink straight up.  

The flavored shine stuff is a nice honeypot to have out during the holidays. If they're reaching for the "Apple Pie Moonshine" it means they won't be reaching for anything else.

[R-Savage]

I'm not going to say the worst bourbon. However the least satisfying bourbon I have tasted was wellers special reserve it went for about 35.00 cdn up here in alberta. It was alright. But I won't be buying it again. Guess I'm pretty fortunate.

Edited December 11, 2015 by R-Savage

[b1gcountry]

My worst so far is the old Taylor I got from 1968 that had been sitting in my father's basement for the past 40 years. I have no clue what it tasted like originally, but now it almost makes me sick. I am definitely saving the bottle though.

[s8ist]

11 hours ago, RiverRat said:

Rhetoric.  One taste and I gave the bottle to a local distillery to showcase the effects of being in wood too long.

I have to ask, was it the 20 or the 21 year?

I loved the 20 year, but couldn't stand the 21 year.  I find it hard to believe that they are related.

[tanstaafl2]

7 minutes ago, s8ist said:

I have to ask, was it the 20 or the 21 year?

I loved the 20 year, but couldn't stand the 21 year.  I find it hard to believe that they are related.

Better than fair chance they aren't. Such is the marvel that is Diageo.

[O'DubhGhaill]

20 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Not calling you out or anything, just providing some info here. There are three variations of Ten High that I'm aware of. IIRC, the current Ten High is blended. They also had a straight bourbon, but I'm pretty sure it's not being made any more. The Ten High Ten was a ten year old straight bourbon. It's considered a dusty, and was actually pretty decent. It came in a metal container.

Joe

 

20 hours ago, fishnbowljoe said:

Not calling you out or anything, just providing some info here. There are three variations of Ten High that I'm aware of. IIRC, the current Ten High is blended. They also had a straight bourbon, but I'm pretty sure it's not being made any more. The Ten High Ten was a ten year old straight bourbon. It's considered a dusty, and was actually pretty decent. It came in a metal container.

Joe

I've had the THT in the tin and it was very dusty and not bad at all.  I am aware of the difference of the newer blended whiskey and it is, for me and as I wrote, awful.

[TunnelTiger]

Luckily for me joining this forum has prevented from tasting much less buying bad low priced bourbon.  Now I've had some $100 + that I poured down the drain.  Well that and Devils Cut.