stories:
The Ten
10 Good Cheap Liquors
Tips from the experts on the best values in booze
By Roxanne Webber
1. Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey (about $13). Adam Lantheaume, the owner of the Boston Shaker store, says this rye is excellent, even in a spirit-forward drink like a Manhattan. He knows many mixologists who use it as their default for rye-based cocktails. Try it in a classic Manhattan.
2. Rain Organics Vodka (about $15). Rain has silly packaging, but A. J. Rathbun, author of Good Spirits, says the vodka “is clear and has a good, clean taste,” although he also says to avoid the flavored versions. Try it in the Sophisticate or our adaptation of Blue Hill at Stone Barns’ Oat and Honey Vodka.
3. Flor de Caña Black Label Rum (about $18). For nearly the same price as a bottle of Bacardi, you can pick up a bottle of aged Nicaraguan rum with much more complex flavors. This five-year-old spirit won Best in Class and Gold Medal awards at last year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition. Try it in the Passionista, our not-too-sweet riff on an umbrella drink.
4. Wild Turkey Bourbon (about $20). Daniel Hyatt, the bar manager of the Alembic in San Francisco, says this bourbon has always been a great product for the price. He says it’s “exceptionally balanced” and a “great expression of grain whiskey.” Try it in our Bourbon Sour.
5. Milagro Silver Tequila (about $20). It can be hard to find a good bargain among 100 percent agave tequilas, but Charles Joly, chief mixologist at the Drawing Room in Chicago, says that prices are dropping. He recommends this tequila from Milagro because it’s “authentic, versatile, and delicious.” Try it in a pitcher of Perfect Margaritas or a bubbly Mexican 75.
6. Beefeater London Dry Gin (about $18). The Alembic’s Daniel Hyatt says this is a classically flavored, well-made London dry gin: “They’ve been in the game a long time.” Try it in our Bramble, made with fresh summer blackberries.
7. Rittenhouse 100 Proof Rye (about $14). As well as being the star of our Perfect Sazerac video with Jonny Raglin of Absinthe, this whiskey, according to the Drawing Room’s Charles Joly, “stacks up against brands two to three times the cost.” Make sure you get the 100 proof (not the 80) because “the extra proof makes sure the flavor doesn’t get washed out,” says Joly. Try it in a Sazerac, of course.
8. W. L. Weller Special Reserve (about $16). Good Spirits author A. J. Rathbun says this seven-year-old bourbon has a smooth, full taste and is great for cocktails. The distiller swaps the rye out for wheat, which is what lends the smoothness, says Wine Enthusiast, which called it a “truly outstanding buy.” Try it in the Angel’s Share, an easy, two-ingredient cocktail.
9. Famous Grouse Finest (about $20). Hyatt calls this classic blended whisky a great Scotch that’s easy to drink on its own but “has enough malt and strength to mix a cocktail with, should you desire.” Try it in the Bobby Burns.
10. Lunazul Tequila (about $18). This 100 percent agave tequila is what Toby Malone of Chicago’s Violet Hour says he’s using at his new Nashville haunt, the Patterson House. Malone says both the blanco and reposado are good, and “for the price point I’ve never found better.” It’s a lighter tequila that works well in cocktails and isn’t too agave-forward. Try it in a refreshing summer Paloma.
Rain vodka is TERRIBLE. Don't get me wrong. I love corn on the cob, but just not in my happy hour drink. By far the worst tasting vodka out there at any price.
I wholeheartedly agree with the bourbon and rye recommendations. I've turned on so many folks to Old Overholt this summer, it's not even funny. I've only just discovered Rittenhouse, and both Wild Turkey's bourbon and rye are top notch.
Based on those recommendations alone, I'll be checking out the rums and tequilas listed here. Always tough to find good examples of those at a reasonable price.
My vote for cheap-ish vodka: Tito's. If you can find it, try it out.
Great list! If you like a relatively big scotch, I would swap out Famous Grouse for Te Bheag. It's a bit rich for this list at about $35 a bottle (LCBO -- in Vintages, for some reason) but it's a nice blend, if you like your scotch more fat and hairy (as I do). I've had $70 single malts that don't offer as much.
Wild Turkey Rye 101 is a great value @ $20 or so, straight, rocks or mixed.
Ezra Brooks bourbon (about $12) tastes as good as or better than Jack Daniel's.
I second the Wild Turkey reco. I like the 101 and the Rye 101. Those are my go to bourbons. I would also add Elijah Craig 12 yr old. At about $20 or less, it is a great value. Also, Evan Williams Single Barrel can be had for under $24 sometimes, a bit over the range of this article, but worth an extra few bucks.
i guess it's a matter of perspective. i would hardly consider anything over $10-$12 as "cheap". certainly not anything over $15, much less $20. sure, a lot of that may be a great value - great quality for the money - but that doesn't make it "cheap"
my suggestion for good, cheap, would be pinnacle for vodka. i've heard heaven hill is good bourbon and can be purchased for $7, but i have yet to try it.
i'd love to see someone with good knowledge of everything that's out there put together an under $10 per fifth list.
Vodkas, I have two: Sobieski ($10 for 750ml) and Bacewski ($10 1L). Good polish vodka and smart prices.
Can't comment about bourbon as I don't drink that or scotch, but Beefeater has always been a classic, along with Tanqueray silver and Bombay Sapphire. Flor de Cana, however, is a wonderful revelation, and the two full-agave tequilas are fine. Of all mentioned, I think my favorite is the Flor de Cana rum. Yummy enough to sip straight with a hot tea and lime on the side.
Forgot to mention: my preference in vodka is either Finlandia or Stoli, both plain, but the best value-to-taste ratio is probably Smirnoff, as the New York Times said a while ago; can't go wrong with that.
I get nasty headaches and am particular about vodka. I never drink from the well but stay modest. I ususally drink Kettel at the bar. At home is Tito's...i would drink it if they had it at a bar. It's made in Texas so the $$$ stays here. No excess shipping or import taxes. What more can we ask for? Give it a try.
Tito's Handmade Vodka
A new vodka from the Lonestar State, truly hand-crafted in a single pot still. Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition
$18.99/750ML btl
I have to second Boomousse on the Tito's recommendation. It's among the best vodkas I've had, it's made domestically, and it's inexpensive.
It's also worth noting that it's 100% corn vodka, no wheat in the mix.
Check them out at: http://www.titos-vodka.com/
Set the single barrel version aside, even regular Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon at about $13 per bottle beats Wild Turkey at $20 hands down. Old Forester at around the same price as Wild Turkey is also better.
Liquor prices in Canada are higher than in the US, in general, and here in Ontario, virtually every 750 ml bottle of spirits is $23, unless you start in on top shelf brands like JW Black or Crown Royal.
However, I've found two gems in the brandy section. St. Remy brandy isn't quite cognac, but it is an excellent French brandy - smooth, lots of flavour, and can stand on its own or in a mixed drink. The other is Duff Gordon, a Spanish brandy. Much more robust, with lots of spice and pepper. I like it best with just water or soda.
Trader Joes - Monopolowa Vodka - $10 for a liter of premium Polish potato vodka = dangerous!
I prefer George Dickel to Jack Daniels and Evan Williams. Yeah yeah, it's not real bourbon but it is a great deal.
You can't go wrong with Wild Turkey. Great value whiskey. Evan Williams is a close second.
Tito's vodka is fine, but Booklegger451 what the heck do you mean "it's worth noting it's 100% corn vodka"? Corn is the absolute cheapest commodity to make vodka from. That is why all large commercial distillers in the U.S. use it. All no-name cheapo vodka is 100% corn. This doesn't make Tito's bad, as I said I think it's fine, but it's certainly nothing to brag about. I know Tito brags about it, but that's just good marketing bullsh*t.
justlikethis hit the nail on the head....corn vodka is cheap vodka.
stick with a vodka made from rye like finlandia.
you should not be able to taste a good vodka on your tongue.
Tito's is far TOO expensive for cheap corn squezins.
Clan MacGregor. Not great, not harsh. A good blended scotch that gets the job done.