I know I'm a amature.

[SlowEddy]

I hear a lot about the cheaper bourbon brands (Evan Williams, Jim Beam) being great bourbons. I like them to a degree. But in bourbons you really get what you pay for and it pays to spend the extra bucks--Knob Creek, and Wild Turkey Rare Breed come to mind. Both outstanding.

[ggilbertva]

Not to be disagreeable but I disagree.......

There are a number of bourbon's on the market that are a great pour at a very reasonable price. There are also poor bourbon's that are overpriced (taste being subjective). For instance, ETL is around $25...a good bourbon for a good price. Another is EWSB at $23 (on sale $19), another good bourbon that I would pay more than the current price and Weller Antique at around $20. These bourbons, in my opionion, are very good bourbon's priced very reasonably....and if the price went up...I would still buy them.

[Bob O.]

I like KC and WTRB....however I agree with Greg...there are alot of great options for less than $25....$20 for that matter. BT, OGD 114, Bulleitt to name a few that weren't mentioned. Thats the beautiful thing about Bourbon...try to come up with a list of good SMS that are less than $25.

[SlowEddy]

I like KC and WTRB....however I agree with Greg...there are alot of great options for less than $25....$20 for that matter. BT, OGD 114, Bulleitt to name a few that weren't mentioned. Thats the beautiful thing about Bourbon...try to come up with a list of good SMS that are less than $25.

I couldn't help but see your picture of Old Blue Eyes. He was a Jack Daniel's man--which I'm sure you know. He's made several references to Jack Daniels, which I know is NOT a bourbon. I don't know about Dean Martin. The rumor was he didn't drink as much as his public image suggests.

[ILLfarmboy]

...Weller Antique at around $20... These bourbons, in my opionion, are very good bourbon's priced very reasonably.....

I probably sound like a broken record but Weller Antique deserves a second mention. It is around 17 dollars a fifth in my area and dirt damn cheap for what you get. Dollar for dollar a better value than OGD BIB which is itself a good value. Don't be put off by OGD's the cheesy orange label.

[T47]

WT 101 not a bad drink at all, here in WA it goes for $22.95, and I know it's hit or miss for folks, but I enjoy EC12, and not just for the value...here in WA it's $19.95.

I think there is a lot of flavor out there for under $25.

I guess it's all individual taste...I would not buy VW 20 again, its $85 out here. I find the VW 15 to be much more to my likeing and its half the price.

:toast:

[Jazzhead]

Count me as one who appreciates bourbon not only for its flavor but also its value. No one's mentioned Old Forester yet, but that's another quality pour for less then 20 bucks (less than $15 if you get lucky). I'm not as big a fan as some of the Weller Antique, but I love the Weller 12 yo, which I last found at the Maryland state line for 19 bucks.

Are the primo pours really worth three and even four times the price of these gems? In the case of Pappy 20, I agree with T47 - I won't be buying another. But I just killed a bottle of WT Kentucky Spirit, and that stuff was smooth like liquid velvet. Yes, it's worth it, and then some.

[nickynick]

I like KC and WTRB....however I agree with Greg...there are alot of great options for less than $25....$20 for that matter. BT, OGD 114, Bulleitt to name a few that weren't mentioned. Thats the beautiful thing about Bourbon...try to come up with a list of good SMS that are less than $25.

Couldn't agree more. For the price of most SMS I can get two or three good pours of Bourbon. BT, OGD BIB, WT 101, and EC 12 are regularly under $20 in my area. And for under $25 you can throw in ETL, ERSB 10yo, OGD 114, others. Don't get me wrong KC and WTRB are great pours and worth what you pay for, but there are some great value out there as well.

[ggilbertva]

Actually Jazz, I almost listed OF as a good bourbon at a decent price. I didn't though because I'm biased now for the older OF86 vs. the current offering. I picked up 4 1.75L OF86 a while back for $12.50 a piece....and I find that the early 80's OF to be superior to the current one. Not sure why, but side by side, older is better in this case.

[cowdery]

It's often been said here that the best American whiskey value isn't a bourbon, it's Rittenhouse Straight Rye Bottled in Bond.

[mgilbertva]

Ah, Ritt Rye BIB, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Absolutely outstanding, and I bought it for $18. I've seen it for much better prices too.

Speaking of Ryes, at $20 I've heard (but not tried) WT Rye may be about as good. And Baby Saz is a can't miss at $23.

As for Old Forester, the current 86pf offering is definitely worth a taste. It rated quite highly in our OF tasting a few weeks back.

[wskybnt]

Yeah I have about 10 times as many bottles that are over $20 than under. But you are really being unjust with yourself if you don't try these mentioned above. I always and keep and drink WT101, OGD BIB, Ritttenhouse, Weller Ant 107, and OC classic 90. You could double the price of these and I would still buy em....

[Old Bill]

This is up my alley, as I don't drink any thing too frooo-frooo. I've come to really enjoy Rebel Yell, and around here it's about 12 bucks. It's a good standard every day no nonsense pour.

[jburlowski]

Like everthing else here, it's a matter of personal preference.... if you like (or don't like) a particular bourbon at a certain price point, then that's all that matters for you.

Drink what you like (the way you like to drink it)... the rest is interesting, but largely immaterial.