Bottom Shelf Finds?

[musekatcher]

I searched but didn't find a thread on better-than-bad bottom shelf bourbon.  With some courage and patience, there are some values below knee level, within the appropriate expectations.  Any suggestions on the best of the ankle class bourbon?

[0895]

I actually think Evan Williams Black Label is pretty solid for the price.

Also,

-Four Roses Yellow Label.

-Very Old Barton 86p

-Heaven Hill 6 year green label (only from KY I believe)

 

Or were you wanting to go even lower than that?

Edited January 3, 2017 by 0895

[flahute]

I don't know of a thread devoted to this topic, but you will find much support for it in the SB ranks. Look through the what are you drinking and what did you purchase threads and you will see the evidence.

Off the top of my head I can think of:

 

VOB6 BIB

OGD BIB

Beam bonded

EWBIB White Label

HHBIB 6yr (and various other HH bondeds such as Dant and JTS Brown).

OF Sig

WT101

Fighting Cock

4RYL

 

[Whiskey Dick]

any of the Heaven Hill lineup of 100 proofers

[BourbonDrinkingSailor]

The VOB BiB is actually a really great bourbon at around $24 a handle. Although the Heaven Hill BiB usually edges it out. Ancient Ancient Age 10 star can also be had around the same price if you find it, but it's getting more and more rare.  

[Xevious]

7 hours ago, flahute said:

OF Sig

That's becoming less and less of a value as the prices have crept up these last few years. I do love OF Sig though.

 

As far as best bang for your buck, it's really hard to beat Heaven Hill. EW BIB is my go-to at $20 a handle. And the black label is solid as well.

[Richnimrod]

4 hours ago, Whiskey Dick said:

any of the Heaven Hill lineup of 100 proofers

Oh, Yeah!    Dant, Brown, HH and more are all worth taking home; for the low prices asked, especially.

[VAGentleman]

Old Ezra 7 yr 101 and Virgin 7 year 101 are both great and usually under $20 (not distriuted everywhere though).  I could be in the minority on this but Medley Brothers has a unique taste to me and is 102 poof and I can get it for $22 (and yes it is an NDP).  AAA 10 Star is now aged 3 years and the quality has gone way down in my opinion

[MeAndMyWhiskey]

The Old Fitzgeralds (Prime and BIB) used to be go-to for me in this category, but I haven't seen BIB for quite a while and the last Prime I bought was, shall we say, sub-prime-at best. Overall though, I think HH does the best job of providing quality at an affordable price across several of those bottom shelf brands named above. 

[weller_tex]

3 hours ago, Richnimrod said:

Oh, Yeah!    Dant, Brown, HH and more are all worth taking home; for the low prices asked, especially.

Ditto on the Dant..$20 or so for a liter and tasty.

[BDanner]

Lord, I must be a cheap drinker. A lot of these being named I consider mid-tier. When I think of the "ankle level" bourbons I'm assuming the $12 and under range. In the $12 and under category there isn't a ton, but I've found the following to have some characteristics of mid level bourbons:

 

Henry McKenna NAS (usually around $12 here)

Benchmark (usually under $11)

Heaven Hill Old Style 80 proof green label (around $8)

Ezra Brooks (around $11) 

 

There's also a brand called Virginia Gentleman from Bowman (so I'm assuming it's BT distillate) but it's only available in NC in 1.75's for $23 so I've been reluctant to try it. 

 

Above that, EW BIB is my go-to.

 

Edited January 3, 2017 by BDanner

[FacePlant]

EW BIB is a winner in this space and I like the GD 12 quite a bit. Just picked up another handle of GD 12 for <$30. Bought some Dant because my granddad was quite the consumer back in the late 60s and early 70s but that didn't hit the spot. (Changed hands several times since those days)

All of these mix well (w/ice).

[PaulO]

Not quite bourbon, but close - Mellow Corn BIB

[Golzee]

JW Dant is $23/L and is a personal favorite.  Other BIB or 100 proofer can be very good as well.   I don't venture to the depths often, but, I have on occasion.  I don't mind Early Times whiskey or their short-lived bourbon.  Stay away from Rod & Rifle bourbon.  It was $10 for a 4 year old Tennesse Bourbon and it remains the worst bourbon I have had to date.  I recently bought OFitz Prime, but, I have yet to try it.

Edited January 3, 2017 by Golzee

[ken_mays]

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

[Harry in WashDC]

3 hours ago, BDanner said:

. . . There's also a brand called Virginia Gentleman from Bowman (so I'm assuming it's BT distillate) but it's only available in NC in 1.75's for $23 so I've been reluctant to try it. 

 

Above that, EW BIB is my go-to.

 

VaGent is, indeed, BT distillate, redistilled then aged in Fredericksburg, VA.  I've been drinking it since 1972 (not a lot but some every few months) when it was made in Fairfax, VA, before Saz/BT bought ASB and moved it.  It really hasn't changed much.  A better than average bottom shelfer IMO.

[musekatcher]

3 hours ago, BDanner said:

Lord, I must be a cheap drinker. A lot of these being named I consider mid-tier. When I think of the "ankle level" bourbons I'm assuming the $12 and under range.

 

54 minutes ago, ken_mays said:

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

 

That's what I was thinking.  OFS, EWBIB, FSYL, OGDBIB, WT101 and GD12 are all $20+ and mid-shelf in my area?  Maybe I'll pull some brands of true ankle bait, and develop a poll?

[TheNovaMan]

1 hour ago, ken_mays said:

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

 

Kentucky Gentleman is blended, and Old Crow is terrible.

[miller542]

2 hours ago, ken_mays said:

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

 

 In order: No, No, NEVER EVER, Yes, maybe, Yes

 

In addition to Taylor and Charter, try Ancient Ancient Age, Benchmark, Evan Williams

Edited January 4, 2017 by miller542

[GTD]

4 hours ago, ken_mays said:

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

I really like the Old Taylor and Old Charter 8...when available 

[GTD]

Even though it's an 80 proof I like the EW green label. Great nose and doesn't taste like a lower proof and is around $11

[ken_mays]

I've had AAA10*, Benchmark and the EW variants.  All have been very drinkable.  The gold label Heaven Hill is about as low as I've personally stooped.  I wouldn't buy another bottle of that for any reason short of arson. 

 

I've also had a drink of VaG (snicker) and my thought was, well it's not horrible. 

Edited January 4, 2017 by ken_mays

[flahute]

7 hours ago, ken_mays said:

What about the stuff like Kentucky Gentleman, Virginia Gentleman, Old Crow, Old Taylor, non-BIB Henry McKenna, Old Charter 8, etc.?

OC8 is not bad actually. It's not available here but I tacked it on to an internet order. 

 

6 hours ago, musekatcher said:

 

 

That's what I was thinking.  OFS, EWBIB, FSYL, OGDBIB, WT101 and GD12 are all $20+ and mid-shelf in my area?  Maybe I'll pull some brands of true ankle bait, and develop a poll?

Mid shelf? I think you guys are forgetting how prices have changed. With prices of regularly available bourbons now ranging from $10 to $80-$100 (with a very large number in the $30 to $60 range) I still consider $20 to be bottom shelf ( or at least bottom +1). The ones that aren't the bottom tier offering from those distilleries are only one step up and there are quite a few steps up above them.

[musekatcher]

6 hours ago, flahute said:

OC8 is not bad actually. It's not available here but I tacked it on to an internet order. 

 

Mid shelf? I think you guys are forgetting how prices have changed. With prices of regularly available bourbons now ranging from $10 to $80-$100 (with a very large number in the $30 to $60 range) I still consider $20 to be bottom shelf ( or at least bottom +1). The ones that aren't the bottom tier offering from those distilleries are only one step up and there are quite a few steps up above them.

 

We aren't there yet, but its coming, lol.  Our literal and figurative bottom shelf regulars are all under $14, probably a couple dozen brands.  While picking up some 35+ selections this week, I threw in a few from the bottom shelf, both under $14 that I'm familiar with.  

[Richnimrod]

2 hours ago, musekatcher said:

 

We aren't there yet, but its coming, lol.  Our literal and figurative bottom shelf regulars are all under $14, probably a couple dozen brands.  While picking up some 35+ selections this week, I threw in a few from the bottom shelf, both under $14 that I'm familiar with.  

Yer Lucky!    I don't know of any Straight Bourbon sold in Michigan (at least stocked where I shop) that sells for any price lower than $17/750.