Bourbon Hall Of Fame: 10 Top-Ranked Whiskeys Retailing For Under $35

Forbes ^ | 09/03/2024 | Joseph V Micallef

[ChicagoConservative27]

Premiumization, another way of saying steadily rising retail prices, has been a feature of the bourbon market over the last decade. Notwithstanding ever-rising bourbon prices, however, there are still outstanding bourbons that retail for extremely attractive prices. Below is a list, along with tasting notes, of ten heavily medaled bourbons that have consistently won in international spirit competitions and still retail on average for around $35 or less. The indicated price is the national retail average and will vary by state.

[ChicagoConservative27]

My friend swears by Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon Whiskey as a favorite.

[yuleeyahoo]

Darn, I checked this thread to where they ranked Louis XIV.

[Larry Lucido]

Jim Beam works for me. Or Wild Turkey.

[NorthMountain]

Homogenized corporate swill.

Drink local.

[Fuzz]

That’s delicious.

[abb]

Had some Ben Nevis the other day. Purty damn good.

[StolarStorm]

I’m surprised they have benchmark on the list. I have a bottle that I just tasted yesterday. Very bitter. I bought it to see if I could “age in the bottle” using oak chips to eventually turn into a semblance of Eagle Rare. That isn’t going to happen. lol

[donozark]

Woodford Reserve. Try it. You’ll be glad you did.

[Mrs.Liberty]

I swear by it, too. In 2018, I had found one called Eagle Rare (made by the same distillery as Buffalo Trace). It was a bit pricey, almost 50.00 per bottle.

In mid 2020, it was hard to come by--my local Bevmo was always sold out. I would find it sometimes at Vons, but the price had gone up to about 70.00

But then I found the Buffalo Trace, and that is my go-to. Can usually get it at Bevmo (or Walmart) for under 30.00.

[broken_clock]

Evan Williams 1783 is really smooth.

[sjmjax]

Woodford Reserve is also the household favorite here.

[mewzilla]

Drink local.

Does Skrewball count...?

[lefty-lie-spy]

Slightly off topic, but I recently bought my first bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label. I’m still waiting a good reason or just a simple whim to open it and drink from a paper cup or coffee mug, or just bring it to the park and share it with friends and whoever might be there at the time.

[Ann Archy]

LOVE EVAN WILLIAMS!!

[NorthMountain]

Do you live in New York?

I don’t ... so to me, it ain’t local.

Beyond which, I find the idea a bit off-putting. I like peanuts. I don’t much care for peanut butter.

[CA_soon_gone]

Woodford Reserve. Try it. You’ll be glad you did.

Like the double oak version. Not under $35.

[End Times Sentinel]

What if you don’t live in The South?

[NorthMountain]

Distilleries in Pennsylvania ... Cheers!

[StolarStorm]

https://food52.com/blog/14396-how-to-age-your-bourbon-in-3-seconds#:~:text=The%20recipe%20calls%20for%20you,be%20amazed%20by%20the%20smoothness.

[mewzilla]

I normally don’t drink whiskey, whisky, or bourbon. Just malmsey.

But once I got past the gross out factor, I tried some of that stuff and actually found it quite smooth and tasty.

And yay, since I live in NYS and it doesn’t appear to have been swallowed up yet by Big Booze then it’s local!