Bourbon Pricing Tiers

[miller542]

A little background: I've always been a whiskey drinker, but I've really started to get in to it the past year or so. The more I pay attention to what's on the shelf instead of just grabbing the same old thing, I'm starting to notice what you can get for certain prices.

I'm a "value" guy. I try to get the absolute most for my money. I don't buy the most expensive stuff, instead, I usually find something in the middle of the road price wise that is almost as good as the premium items.

So, lets relate this to bourbon, shall we?

What does everyone find to be the best bourbon value in the following price ranges? (for a 750mL)

under $10

$10 - $15

$15 - $20

$20 - $30

$30 - $50

over $50

Seems to me there are a few peers a each price point, and each jump up in price also represents a similar jump in quality.

Let me throw out some names to start the discussion:

under $10

???

$10 - $15

Old Ezra, VOB BIB

$15 - $20

EC 12yr, BT

$20 - $30

EWSB, WT RR, ERSB

$30 - $50

???

over $50

Booker's

[AVB]

Under $10 I'd vote for Ancient Ancient Age. At $30-50 Van Winkle 15 does it for me.

[Geo]

$15 - $20

Elijah Craig 12yr

Wild Turkey 101

Old Grand Dad 101

$20 - $30

Old Rip Van Winkle 10yr 107

Old Grand Dad 114

Wild Turkey Russells Reserve

$30 - $50

Pappy Van Winkle Family reserve 15yr 107

Blantons

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Knob Creek

over $50

George T Stagg

Bookers

A.H. Hirsh

[BobA]

There are some older threads along this line, but they were before I became a member so I haven't played yet. Given my experiences and Atlanta area prices, focusing on value . . .

under $10

The easy one here is VOB 90. To an extent, all bourbon is a good value and that can be seen here; EW, AA, etc., are in here, and drinkable for under a ten-dollar bill is a great thing (I even know a lady who loves Old Crow), but the VOB 90 would be a good value even a tier or two up.

$10 - $15

Actually harder. A lot of the "base bourbons" are priced here for me (JB white, OF 86, etc.), so see above. Prefer VOB 90 to anything here.

$15 - $20

OGD BIB

Old Charter 90 Classic

Eagle Rare 10 101 (although it may have creeped above $20)

$20 - $30

Here the tier seems too wide. I see a real difference in the low $20's and the high $20's. A perfect example is that WT 101 is $21 and Russell Reserve is $29. Both good values, but it feels funny to list them as "equals." Also

OGD 114

ORVW 10 107

Knob Creek

$30 - $50

Even wider, but I haven't broken $30 all that often.

ORVW 15 107

Baker's

Booker's

over $50

Haven't felt the need to go over $50 yet. But here I'll mention Sazerac rye that I got in the high $40's. It could get priced pretty far into this tier before I would start questioning whether it was a good value.

Bob

[OneCubeOnly]

This should be fun! Here are my picks:

under $10

No question about this one for me: Ancient Ancient Age 10yo. It's $9.90/750ml here in the Taxonwealth of VA.

$10 - $15

This is a little tougher--I really don't spend in this price range, other than on EC 12yo. But if I had to choose between it and AAA 10yo, I'd still pick the AAA.

$15 - $20

No competition in this category for me *AT ALL*. The unquestionable winner is Buffalo Trace.

$20 - $30

Eagle Rare Single Barrel 10yo. With EWSB as a close 2nd. Those are really the only bourbons I buy in this price range.

$30-50

Blanton's. If you catch a sale in Maryland you can get it in the high 20's, but I realize that isn't typical, so I put it here. My other picks are OFBB and Pappy 15yo.

over $50

Pappy 20. It's the only bourbon I'll consistently shell out major bucks to procure*.

*Stagg not available except through generosity of other Bourbonians

[nysquire]

Under $10 - Heaven Hill

$10 - $15 - Old Forester

$15 - $20 - EC 12yo

$20 - $30 - ORVW 10yo 107

$30 - $40 - This is generally the price range for many dam fine sippin bourbons.......

Weller Centennial

Rock Hill

EC 18yo

Blantons

**ORVW 15yo 107**

Old Pogue

VW lot B 12yo

OF Birthday 13yo

$40 - $50 - Rowens Creek

Bookers

Jeffersons Reserve

$70 - Pappy VW 20yo

atleast this is what we're enjoying....