How low will you go?

[BobA]

At least half of the responses to my question are not readily available in Oklahoma. No Barton, no Heaven Hill, no Rittenhouse, No AAA. I will pick up a few of the others mentioned and audition them, heck I can buy 4 or 5 of these for the price of one Birthday Bourbon or equivelant.

To be continued...

Of the three you listed in your original post, OGD 86 is my favorite, and I would have no real problem if price and availablity made it my "low end" bottle. But maybe there's something else on the shelf? And you'll note that no one mentioned Old Crow.

Good luck.

Bob

P.S. Oklahoma may be Old Charter country. The 12 is one of my over-all favorites, and if pricing is like it is here, just a few bucks more than the 8. I'd start with the 12.

[melting]

Evan Williams for $7.49 for 750 ml.

Chris

[ratcheer]

Yes, Old Grand Dad 86 would be about it. Its not very cheap here, though.

Tim

[ThomasH]

Ancient Age 100 proof. It runs 23.00-24.00 for 1.75L in Kentucky. A bottle goes pretty far and make a very drinkable mixed drink!

Thomas

[Jazzhead]

Let's here it for good, cheap bourbon! If the demarcation line is just $17 bucks, I'd be a happy camper just sticking to Old Forester, Dickel No. 12 and Old Heaven Hill BIB. Myself, I get a kick out of finding cheap old dusties. Old Hickory, Old Kentucky Tavern, there's some tasty stuff out there for under ten bucks a bottle. The remarkable thing I find about bourbon is that quality is very often not a function of price. The good blue collar pours can be as satisfying as the image brands.

[brian12069]

There's some tasty stuff out there for under ten bucks a bottle. The remarkable thing I find about bourbon is that quality is very often not a function of price. The good blue collar pours can be as satisfying as the image brands.

I agree with this 100% I have had some $50 bottles that I didn't enjoy as much as a $14 Old Fitgerald 1849 or $10 bottle of Evan Williams.

[Old Bill]

The lowest? Old Crow. I had to give it a try just because of the history behind the label. In spite of its medicinal-antiseptic taste, I can't say it was the worst, but I tend to drink the middle of the road stuff anyway. Since I am sort of new to this whole bourbon experience, I figure middle of the road is where I should start. One of my discoveries is Rebel Yell. Gotta say that this has been one of my favorite bourbons so far, and it's about 12 bucks.

[JeffRenner]

My favorite bottom shelf, Kentucky prices (and no tax!):

HH BiB 10 yo - $9.99

HH BiB 6 yo - $8.79

I was worried that the 6 yo, being from the Bernheim distillery rather than the HH one that burned, would not be as good. As I have posted before, I don't think we have anything to worry about. It is very fine. And I still have one bottle of the 10 yo plus a little left in an opened bottle. Not the best 10 yo I've ever had, but what a value!

I think that Old Taylor from Beam is a fine value. The State of Michigan controlled price list link seems to be down this evening, but as I recall, OT is ~$11. This is a 6 yo and while it's been a few years since I've had it, I recall that it was quite nice and a value. Especially considering that JB 4 yo is a few dollars more and not nearly as nice.

Again, it's been a few years since I've had Rebel Yell, but I think it's around $12 here in Michigan, and just fine.

I used to love Beam's version of Old Crow in the late 90's. It was a very delicate 4 yo, and only $6.93 (I bought a fair number of them - it's still under $7). But then sometime around 1999 they dropped the age to three years and ruined it. It was feinty and raw. Jim Murray says that it has improved, but it's still three years old. I have a couple of bottles in the bunker of the 4 yo. It's a great summer whiskey. Light, crisp and refreshing.

I've not been fond of Evan Williams. I bought a bottle in Cape Ann in Massachusetts while on vacation this summer, and that confirmed that to me, it's sort of rich oak caramel but lacking in complexity. Not bad, and under $10, I think, but not for me.

Nice thread!

Jeff

[JDutton]

I recently found a store with Old Overholt for under $10, and its time for me to get another.

[Frodo]

I recently found a store with Old Overholt for under $10, and its time for me to get another.

I could only dream of prices like that!

[CrispyCritter]

For drinking neat:

Old Fitzgerald BIB, about $13 for a fifth

AAA 10 year, about $14

Rittenhouse Rye BIB, about $12

For Manhattans and the like add Rittenhouse 80 and Old Overholt.

[brian12069]

I recently found a store with Old Overholt for under $10, and its time for me to get another.

Same price here, great in a Manhattan isn't it?

[BrbnBorderline]

Ancient Age 3YO, $ 26.95 for 1.75 l in WA state.

[jinenjo]

Beam Black $15 approximately.

I have tried this numerous times. And the last bottle was purchase purely for utiliarian reasons (I got a 375ml to be used for refilling of half-full top shelf stuff).

I'm still nursing this one. I almost feel like dumping it out. It's just flat to me. It's not terrible or anything but Beam Black lacks depth for sure. I am now questioning whether or not to use the 2liters of Beam rye I bought for my rebarreling project. I'm hoping more time in wood will give it at least a bit of what it lacks...:skep: :skep:

At least I can say Knob Creek is tastier than Beam Black, which is a better dram than Beam white.

[Stu]

I can get either VOB or Henry McKenna for around $17 for 1.75 ltr. here in AR. They get my vote.

Stu

[straightwhiskeyruffneck]

got a 1.75 of ezra brooks 90 pf. for $15.99! and a dandy pour. well, lots of them. and a cork top to boot

[brian12069]

One thing we can all agree on here? Price really doesn't mean anything.

[jburlowski]

One thing we can all agree on here? Price really doesn't mean anything.

Price clearly matters... just not nearly as much as most folks would imagine.

[Father&Son]

AAA 10-Star or Ezra Brooks 90-proof.

Steve