On this planet of bourbon, loads of hype surrounds uncommon, extremely allotted, and costly bottles. That is comprehensible. In any case, it’s enjoyable to brag concerning the bottle of Pappy 23 you snagged at a charity public sale or that you simply landed the long-elusive closing bottle wanted to finish your Blanton’s horse topper assortment. It’s much more pleasant to share these gems with different whiskey followers.
But glorious bourbon might be each accessible and reasonably priced. The market accommodates scores of scrumptious expressions usually retailing for $50 or much less. These bottles inadvertently include a secret: Very similar to their expensive counterparts, ingesting them with whiskey aficionados can produce a way of pleasure that solely comes from sharing one thing pleasant.
Whereas bourbons below $50 are a lot simpler to seek out than unicorn bottles, the abundance of bourbons throughout the worth vary make discovering the suitable one difficult. To assist out, we requested 11 bartenders to share their ideas on one of the best $50-or-less bourbon at the moment available on the market. Their responses could encourage you to select up a brand new bottle, and the bourbons’ cheap worth factors could nudge you towards choosing up two totally different expressions.
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The Greatest Bourbon Below $50, In keeping with Bartenders:
- Tamworth Dunce Whiskey
- FEW Bottled in Bond Bourbon
- Woodford Reserve
- Michter’s Straight Bourbon
- Nice Jones Distilling Co. Wheated Bourbon
- Pinhook Bourbon
- Benchmark Bonded Bourbon
- Wild Turkey 101
- J. Rieger Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Evan Williams Bourbon
- Elijah Craig Small Batch
“My present choose is Tamworth Dunce Whiskey, which retails at round $39.99 a bottle. It’s playful in identify, however critically well-crafted, with heat notes of charred oak, vanilla, and a little bit spice that makes it extremely versatile. As a mixologist, I like the way it holds up in cocktails with out dropping its character. I take advantage of it typically in riffs on Outdated Fashioneds and sours, the place its depth actually shines via. It’s a sleeper gem I all the time carry on my again bar.” —Ryleigh Bouchard, bartender, Chang Thai Cafe, Littleton, N.H.
“For below 50 bucks, my go-to whiskey is FEW Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Notes of cherry and cinnamon buns, with a pleasant lengthy earthy end, make it an awesome sipper, however at 100 proof it really works simply as properly in basic cocktails that want a little bit punch. It sings in an Outdated Original and even an old-school Whiskey Bitter, whereas a lighter or much less flavorful whiskey would get misplaced within the combine. It’s a staple at OsKar and in my house bar.” —Eric Slater, lead bartender, OsKar, Evanston, Unwell.
“My favourite bourbon is Woodford Reserve. It’s easy with a touch of that fascinating warmth. It’s refined sufficient to sip on, however isn’t too swanky for a blended drink. It’s my go-to under-$50 bourbon.” —Bernadette James, licensed sommelier, Phases at One Washington/The Dwelling Room, Dover, N.H.
“My favourite bourbon at the moment available on the market below $50 has received to be Michter’s. Michter’s has a wide range of whiskeys in its line, they usually’re all scrumptious, however for those who’re in search of one thing below $50 that may be drunk by itself or in a cocktail, the Straight Bourbon takes the cake for me. It has barely candy notes of caramel and a touch of vanilla, whereas being full-bodied with a style of the oak that it’s aged in. The bourbon is 91.4 proof, so it’s not too scorching to drink by itself (although personally I desire it on a big dice of ice), and it lends itself properly to a wide range of cocktails.“ —Lexi Parker, beverage supervisor, Poka Loka Social Membership, Denver
“Nice Jones Distilling Co.’s Wheated Bourbon is straightforward to work with and is extremely easy. The softer wheat notes give it a buttery texture that basically shines in an Outdated Original or a Whiskey Bitter. It’s approachable with out dropping depth, and the truth that it’s made with 100% New York substances provides it an actual sense of place. At $44.99, it’s the most effective values you’ll discover for a well-made, regionally distilled bourbon.” —Bridget Ramsey, bar supervisor, Judy & Harry’s, Asbury Park, N.J.
“Pinhook is one of the best bourbon below $50 as a result of it delivers distinctive high quality, character, and craftsmanship at an reasonably priced worth. Every launch is vintage-dated and named after Kentucky race horses, providing distinctive taste profiles, starting from shiny and spicy to wealthy and easy. It’s approachable for newcomers however nuanced sufficient for extra refined palates. Plus, its transparency and dedication to small-batch manufacturing make it standout in a crowded subject.” —Dee Acosta, beverage director, Golden West Cafe, Baltimore
“Benchmark Bonded. It’s heads and tails above their 80 proof [bourbon] and excellent for shaken cocktails. Plus it’s a good selection for a Boilermaker. At Mister Tiger, we combine it with lemon, Demerara syrup, and Branca Menta for our Grandma’s Tiger Balm cocktail. It has loads of taste to face up and steadiness the Branca Menta.” —Alex Barbatsis, lead bartender, Mister Tiger, Chicago
“Wild Turkey 101 is one of the best bang-for-your-buck bourbon on the market. It’s nice neat, stirred, with a beer on the facet, blended, or straight out the bottle. At all times flavorful, with a slight vanilla notice to begin and a heavy spice end. The heavy char and excessive proof assist this bourbon combine very well in a Black Manhattan or an Outdated Original. The Russell Household nonetheless is answerable for high quality and makes certain that with Wild Turkey each shot is easy, and its affordability makes it even smoother.” —Tony Jimenez, bartender, Almanac, Philadelphia
“I actually like J. Rieger Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It’s a agency construct with a sunny, citrusy disposition, and that makes for an intellectually satisfying sip. At 90 proof, that beneficiant complexity is pushed by sufficient chutzpah to hold via in cocktails, however not a lot as to dominate the proceedings. It’s particularly good left open on a desk amongst buddies in a darkened room, handed round whereas the vinyl hisses and the cube crackle. Or so I’ve heard. At round $35, it’s an awesome worth for a bourbon of this high quality.” —Lukas B. Smith, director of meals and beverage, The LINE DC, Washington, D.C.
“Evan Williams. I don’t suppose I’ve ever seen an Evan Williams bottle on a liquor retailer shelf for greater than $39.99, and that’s in a number of states! The smoothness of the juice and complexity of the flavour of bourbon for the worth is likely one of the best available in the market. The truth that they stored that very same worth level regardless of their five-figure barrel loss within the hearth of 1996 is exceptional.” —Kortnee Leigh, bartender, Sugar Monk, NYC
“Elijah Craig Small Batch retails for $20 to $30. Whereas their different batches can vary in worth, the Small Batch packs such a punch, it makes it an awesome bang for its buck. I feel in at this time’s bourbon market, a lot is misplaced within the course of and is saturated by the sheer quantity of decisions. Due to this, their slogan, ‘The spirit of custom, refined for the fashionable palate,’ holds true to me in lots of methods. It’s a nod to craftsmanship, heritage, and steadiness. I consider it’s a grasp class in bourbon making and for the worth level, I haven’t discovered one thing else that I’d prefer to drink neat.” —Michael Rader, bartender, Granville, Pasadena, Calif.
