Tasty Bourbons That Won't Break Your Budget (2024)

If you're looking for a quality liquor that won't break the bank, you may be surprised to find that bourbon is one of your better bets, but it is.

Sure, dyed-in-the-wool bourbon aficionados will happily tell of you of the glimpse they once got of a Pappy Van Winkle bottle, which can retail for thousands, but for those of us who will never taste it, we can still enjoy a great-tasting bourbon co*cktail—or even a make good enough to drink straight—without shelling out several mortgage payments.

In fact, we'd dare say that for under $30 per bottle (and sometimes for under $15), you can get better-quality bourbon than you can practically any other liquor.

Some Tips on Buying Bourbon

Whether you're new to bourbon in general, or just looking for a new bottle to put on the shelf, it pays to do a little exploring. To be called bourbon, a whiskey has to be made from at least 51% corn and aged in charred oak containers (which gives it that brown color and vanilla flavors). While that generally means that bourbon is going to be sweeter than other whiskeys, such as rye or Scotch, it also allows for a lot of variation. So if you like one kind of bourbon it doesn't mean that you'll like others.

To that end, we recommend buying smaller bottles—a flask or even the airplane-sized bottles—first, and tasting as you go, before deciding to invest in a full 750ml or larger option. If you're looking for something to sip on over ice, go for a lower alcohol content, no more than 80-90 proof at most. The higher-octane alcohols (101-proof and up) are mostly going to taste very harsh on their own, and will be better in mixed drinks.

Finally, don't be afraid to try something new! A lot of the bourbons on this list are classic brands that are widely available. That's because they're well established, and having been turning out a reliably high-quality product for decades (sometimes centuries). But there's recently been an explosion of new distilleries in the U.S. and while the startup costs mean that they may not be as inexpensive as the big guys, you may find an affordable bottle in your neck of the woods that you like as much or better.

Either way, we've filled this list with our favorite safe bets: bourbons that you can be proud to pour for yourself or guests, as an after-dinner treat or weekend unwinder, in a stiff co*cktail, or even cooked into a quality side dish like bourbon yams.

This easy-drinking bourbon is probably the place that most everyone interested in this kind of whiskey should start—and frankly there's no shame if it's also where you end up. It's an eminently sip-able drink that's equally at home in a julep as it is neat. If you like it, you may want to try their slightly more expensive Longbranch blend, which is very tasty.

The same company that makes Evan Williams also makes the higher-end Elijah Craig brand. This blend is dark and oaky with lots of flavors—great for a crisp fall evening by the campfire. Depending on where you live, it's often available for under $30.

The Dickel distilleries don't just make Tennessee whiskey. This higher-end label has gotten a lot of love from bourbon fans since it first hit the markets in 2000. Though it's a relative newcomer, the spicier profile makes it great for mixing into co*cktails—and it makes for a nice sipper for those who are looking for a slightly less sweet bourbon.

This light honey-and-spice bourbon is from one of the few distilleries to survive prohibition (when they were allowed to make medicinal alcohol). It's an easy sipper that's practically guaranteed not to offend, with a balance that works very well in co*cktails of all stripes.

Beam, which often sells for less than $15 for a standard 750ml bottle, is nearly impossible to beat, value-wise. Beam's been making their whiskey since 1795, and the distillery, which is known for higher-end brands like Knob Creek and Basil Hayden, absolutely knows what they're doing. Sweet and mellow, there's a good reason why this is one of the best selling whiskeys in the world, bourbon or not.

Often available for under $20, Old Forester is the budget bourbon arm of the same company that makes Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve. It's a brand with a storied history—another of the few that managed to survive through prohibition—and it's one of the few budget bourbons with real character, making it worth a sip, at least.

Though it's often a little pricier, if you're willing to bargain hunt you can often find a bottle of Woodford for around $30-$35, and it's worth the price bump, if you're ready to take on a slightly more expensive bottle. The rich, balanced bourbon is delicious neat, but holds its own in co*cktails across the gamut—especially in a mint julep.

If you're looking for something a little off the beaten path but still want to keep to a budget, consider this bourbon from Texas newcomer Balcones. Though they've only been distilling since 2009, they've quickly become good at it, and this big-in-every-way bourbon is evidence. It's got lots of rich, well-balanced flavors, both sweet and smoky. We love sipping it neat.

Larceny is what's known as a "wheated" bourbon—meaning that wheat is the next-biggest ingredient in the mix after corn. (Usually it's rye.) Few other distillers make a wheated bourbon, but one that does, W. L. Weller, makes Pappy Van Winkle. Does that mean that this tastes like Pappy? Given its price, we've never had an opportunity to compare them side by side—but if it does, then we understand what all the fuss is about.