Bargain Bourbon Bottles: Bottom Shelf Comeback
Bargain Bourbon Bottles: Bottom Shelf Comeback
Remember when "bottom shelf" meant cheap rotgut that tasted like regret and burnt rubber? Yeah, those days are pretty much over. These days some of the best bang-for-buck bourbons are hiding right down there with the plastic jugs and weird off-brand vodka. I learned this the hard way a couple years back when I was flat broke after buying a used truck that turned out to be a total lemon. Grabbed the cheapest decent-looking bottle I could find just to take the edge off… and damn if it wasn’t one of the smoothest pours I’d had all year. Been hunting bottom-shelf gold ever since. Here’s the current lineup that won’t make your wallet cry.
Old Forester 86 Proof
Solid Kentucky straight bourbon that drinks way above its price tag. Caramel, vanilla, a little oak spice, and zero harsh bite. Perfect everyday sipper whether you’re neat, on the rocks, or mixing an old fashioned after mowing the lawn.
Evan Williams Black Label
The grandpa of cheap bourbon and still kicking ass. Sweet corn, light charcoal note, super easy drinking. This is the one you keep in the freezer for when the game goes to overtime or the neighbor shows up unannounced with a six-pack.
Benchmark Old No. 8
Buffalo Trace makes this one, same family as Blanton’s but costs like ten bucks. Light, slightly fruity, tiny bit of cinnamon kick. Great for mixing but honestly good enough to sip if you’re watching the budget.
Very Old Barton 100 Proof (Bottled-in-Bond)
A hundred proof for pocket change? Yes please. Big bold vanilla, baking spices, and that extra alcohol gives it some real backbone. Feels like you’re cheating the system every time you pour a glass.
Wild Turkey 81 Proof
Yeah the 101 gets all the love, but this cheaper little brother is stupidly smooth for the money. Little honey, little pepper, goes down way too easy. Grab it when the liquor store’s running a sale—you’ll thank me later.
Ancient Age
Old school name, old school flavor. Buffalo Trace again (they’re killing it down here). Toasty oak, dried fruit, tiny bit of leather. Tastes like something your old man drank and now you get why he never complained.
Jim Beam White Label (the classic one)
Don’t laugh—when you just need a reliable bourbon that won’t embarrass you, this one’s been doing the job for decades. Sweet, nutty, perfect for ginger ale or just shooting with the boys after a long week.
Four Roses Yellow Label
Underrated gem. Light, floral, touch of pear and spice. Mixes like a dream but surprisingly tasty on its own. If you see it under twelve bucks, buy two bottles and call it a win.
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