Favorite bourbon in the $40-$50 range?

[DitchPanda]

Lots of solid bourbons in that price range-some standouts to me are 4roses single barrel and old forester 1910. 2 weeks ago I picked up a makers mark cask strength for $45ish out the door and holy crap is it good, I passed that up for far too long. To me though the best I can get around here in that range is Wild Turkey rare breed, it never disappoints and I always have a bottle in the cabinet. What's your favorite bourbon(s) between $40-$50?

[casts_by_fly]

The ones you already mentioned. Makers cask or special cask, four roses single. That said most any of the $45 range bottles are pretty good. 

[BigAngus752]

If you want to do some work to find them, the MSRP on Eagle Rare 10yr is $44 and the MSRP on E.H. Taylor Small Batch is $49.  Yes, I have purchased multiple bottles of those for that price or $5 or so over.  In my area you have to develop good rapport with some store managers/owners but it's very possible.  Both are absolutely excellent for the price.  

 

What flavor profile do you prefer?  1910 is a sweet-ish bourbon with a oily mouth-feel and some caramel.  I like it but prefer the 1920 which is a slightly higher proof that brings out more flavor.  If you like brown sugar and vanilla with some spice I highly recommend Wild Turkey Rare Breed ($55) in that price range.  Something with less spice but full flavor is Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond (should be about $40).  The bottled-in-bond guarantees exactly 100 proof and a consistent flavor.  HH and McKenna are the two most popular. If you like a LOT of spice in a really rich bourbon give Smoke Wagon straight bourbon a try ($30) but really their small batch ($55) is the best buy of the brand IMO.  

 

I just poured myself some Eagle Rare 10 just because I was talking about it.  LOL.  Great bourbon.  

[DitchPanda]

17 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

If you want to do some work to find them, the MSRP on Eagle Rare 10yr is $44 and the MSRP on E.H. Taylor Small Batch is $49.  Yes, I have purchased multiple bottles of those for that price or $5 or so over.  In my area you have to develop good rapport with some store managers/owners but it's very possible.  Both are absolutely excellent for the price.  

 

What flavor profile do you prefer?  1910 is a sweet-ish bourbon with a oily mouth-feel and some caramel.  I like it but prefer the 1920 which is a slightly higher proof that brings out more flavor.  If you like brown sugar and vanilla with some spice I highly recommend Wild Turkey Rare Breed ($55) in that price range.  Something with less spice but full flavor is Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond (should be about $40).  The bottled-in-bond guarantees exactly 100 proof and a consistent flavor.  HH and McKenna are the two most popular. If you like a LOT of spice in a really rich bourbon give Smoke Wagon straight bourbon a try ($30) but really their small batch ($55) is the best buy of the brand IMO.  

 

I just poured myself some Eagle Rare 10 just because I was talking about it.  LOL.  Great bourbon. 

Eagle rare and EH Taylor are almost non existent in my area unless you are willing to spend way over MSRP...I'm talking $65 to $100. 1910 is a great every once in a while dessert pour for me, I actually prefer it over Woodford double oak. Rare breed is my go to, I can get it here for $50 out the door and to me it can't be beat at that price. Its funny you mention heaven hill BIB  because I picked up a bottle today but its $55 everywhere around here so I may have over payed.

[BigAngus752]

2 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Eagle rare and EH Taylor are almost non existent in my area unless you are willing to spend way over MSRP...I'm talking $65 to $100. 1910 is a great every once in a while dessert pour for me, I actually prefer it over Woodford double oak. Rare breed is my go to, I can get it here for $50 out the door and to me it can't be beat at that price. Its funny you mention heaven hill BIB  because I picked up a bottle today but its $55 everywhere around here so I may have over payed.

You didn't overpay if that's what all the stores have it for.  Bourbon is so ridiculous right now.  You say the Eagle Rare and EH are almost non-existent, but they are never on shelves here either.  I just have store managers that call me and ask if I want one because they know me.  There are hundreds of liquor stores in the southern states that can't sell Eagle Rare and it sits on the shelves for $44.  Just crazy.  Let me know what you think of the Heaven Hill!  Cheers!

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, BigAngus752 said:

You didn't overpay if that's what all the stores have it for.  Bourbon is so ridiculous right now.  You say the Eagle Rare and EH are almost non-existent, but they are never on shelves here either.  I just have store managers that call me and ask if I want one because they know me.  There are hundreds of liquor stores in the southern states that can't sell Eagle Rare and it sits on the shelves for $44.  Just crazy.  Let me know what you think of the Heaven Hill!  Cheers!

Eh, its ok...nothing bad about it but pretty Meh for what I paid. I have an Evan Williams single barrel that's older with a very comparable flavor profile that I only paid like $34 for. They had a bottle of Jameson black barrel for $47...kinda wish I got that instead.

[deaknh03]

Jamison black barrel every single time. 

[DitchPanda]

7 hours ago, deaknh03 said:

Jamison black barrel every single time. 

You may be right

[GReb]

If you like Turkey give Russell’s 10 a try. It’s right around 45 bucks 

[LrgmouthShad]

I agree with the above. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength is excellent and Four Roses Small Batch or Single Barrel if you can find it in that price range is good. Four Roses Small Batch is a go-to for me now. Love that stuff. 

[thediscochef]

On 7/13/2024 at 6:17 PM, BigAngus752 said:

If you want to do some work to find them, the MSRP on Eagle Rare 10yr is $44 and the MSRP on E.H. Taylor Small Batch is $49.  Yes, I have purchased multiple bottles of those for that price or $5 or so over.  In my area you have to develop good rapport with some store managers/owners but it's very possible.  Both are absolutely excellent for the price.  

 

What flavor profile do you prefer?  1910 is a sweet-ish bourbon with a oily mouth-feel and some caramel.  I like it but prefer the 1920 which is a slightly higher proof that brings out more flavor.  If you like brown sugar and vanilla with some spice I highly recommend Wild Turkey Rare Breed ($55) in that price range.  Something with less spice but full flavor is Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond (should be about $40).  The bottled-in-bond guarantees exactly 100 proof and a consistent flavor.  HH and McKenna are the two most popular. If you like a LOT of spice in a really rich bourbon give Smoke Wagon straight bourbon a try ($30) but really their small batch ($55) is the best buy of the brand IMO.  

 

I just poured myself some Eagle Rare 10 just because I was talking about it.  LOL.  Great bourbon.  

the heaven hill is highly underrated imo but for just a little more I think mckenna is worth it. I also like the Hirsch Horizon for a cheap daily/30ish% rye bill. Taylor is always good but not always worth the hassle to me. also enjoy the mgp obtanium a whole lot, the obtanium bourbon i got from crazy naz is maybe my all-time favorite alcohol

[Functional]

Elijah Craig has been very solid for me for Bourbon. Bourbon isnt my preferred but I'll never turn down some EC and is the only bourbon I'll keep picking up. I've had Eagle Rare, makers, buffalo trace, etc. and still think EC is better than them.

 

Sold/gave away my Makers and Buffalo Trace and looking for someone to give my Eagle to. Just not worth it when there are so many good options out there. 

[thediscochef]

On 7/16/2024 at 10:57 AM, Functional said:

Elijah Craig has been very solid for me for Bourbon. Bourbon isnt my preferred but I'll never turn down some EC and is the only bourbon I'll keep picking up. I've had Eagle Rare, makers, buffalo trace, etc. and still think EC is better than them.

 

Sold/gave away my Makers and Buffalo Trace and looking for someone to give my Eagle to. Just not worth it when there are so many good options out there. 

Craig makes some great juice. Love the father of bourbon bottle 

[DitchPanda]

On 7/16/2024 at 9:22 AM, thediscochef said:

the heaven hill is highly underrated imo but for just a little more I think mckenna is worth it. I also like the Hirsch Horizon for a cheap daily/30ish% rye bill. Taylor is always good but not always worth the hassle to me. also enjoy the mgp obtanium a whole lot, the obtanium bourbon i got from crazy naz is maybe my all-time favorite alcohol

Honestly like I said I'm not very impressed with the heaven hill. Ill give it sometime to open up now that the bottles cracked, my experience is that can really help. First impressions are not favorable tho. Like I mentioned I've got a single barrel Evan Williams that's as good or better...I'd also say Jim Beam single barrel is also better, both of those options are $20 cheaper. Also like I said above I can get makers cask strength or rare breed for cheaper and they both stomp the heaven hill. My opinion and tastes of course.

[casts_by_fly]

Something else to consider. I don’t know about your local but mine often has 1.75 bottles for not much more than a 750.  Case in point- I have a handle of makers that I bought a couple weeks ago. When I got it, a bottle was $35 I think but a handle was $45. It was $10 more but 2.3x the size. If you’re making cocktails from it, it’s hard to beat that price to value ratio. 

[DitchPanda]

8 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Something else to consider. I don’t know about your local but mine often has 1.75 bottles for not much more than a 750.  Case in point- I have a handle of makers that I bought a couple weeks ago. When I got it, a bottle was $35 I think but a handle was $45. It was $10 more but 2.3x the size. If you’re making cocktails from it, it’s hard to beat that price to value ratio. 

Unfortunately that's not the case around here often. My buddy found some 1783 at a liquor store...750 was $24 handle was like $36 so he scooped one up. I said what's the price on wt 101...750  $25 handle $47. No thanks.

[casts_by_fly]

keep in mind that a handle is more than twice the volume.  So if the price is less than 2x its overall cheaper.  The WT example at $25 for a fifth would be $58 for a handle.  So that's $11 cheaper for the same amount.

 

I did it for makers two weeks ago.  I also grabbed two Bombay in the spring.  Both are things we'll go through in volume here when we have friends over (case in point, the makers is about gone).  

[Junger]

@DitchPanda When are you going to start the "favorite bourbon in the $1000-$5000 range".

 

For ~$50, I'll take John J Bowman SiB all day.

[DitchPanda]

10 hours ago, Junger said:

@DitchPanda When are you going to start the "favorite bourbon in the $1000-$5000 range".

 

For ~$50, I'll take John J Bowman SiB all day.

When I start making 500k a year and can afford them!

I need to try the Bowman, don't see it around me very often.

10 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

keep in mind that a handle is more than twice the volume.  So if the price is less than 2x its overall cheaper.  The WT example at $25 for a fifth would be $58 for a handle.  So that's $11 cheaper for the same amount.

 

I did it for makers two weeks ago.  I also grabbed two Bombay in the spring.  Both are things we'll go through in volume here when we have friends over (case in point, the makers is about gone). 

Oh I fully understand the volume difference. So yes your right its still.a good buy, just not as good as I was anticipating...especially after the deal my buddy got on 1783.

[DitchPanda]

On 7/15/2024 at 4:31 PM, GReb said:

If you like Turkey give Russell’s 10 a try. It’s right around 45 bucks 

Went up to my parents house over the weekend and picked up a bottle. Pretty good stuff. No buyers remorse on that. My dad doesn't even really drink anymore and he even had and enjoyed a couple pours. Left the bottle there so we've got something we both like for our next fishing endeavor.