Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire opinions on expensive whiskey that's worth the cost

Channeling deflave:

Had one wild night with too much COCK about 7 years ago and don't need anymore of it.

-Sparky

Hi Art. If you are saying that it's easier to find a good inexpensive bourbon than scotch, so just get the bourbons that give the best value, I would agree with that. I like bourbon enough that any of the ones I mentioned are, for me, worth the extra expense once in a while. In order to get a decent scotch or japanese single malt, you HAVE to spend the bucks. It's not easy for me to find a bottle of single malt (or even blended scotch) at a value price. Besides the HP, I like the Balvenie Double Wood and Caribbean cask expressions. For a cheap blended scotch sipper, I used to buy Teacher's Highland Cream but the quality started to slip and it's not popular around here with very few stores carrying it. I prefer the HP as it not so smokey as to mask the more delicate flavors that I enjoy. It's all in the balance. The real peat monsters are just too much of a one trick pony for me, but, that is why they make and sell so many different ones.

So I do tend to look for value when I buy bourbon and will snap up the Weller SR and Antique whenever I find them and I usually have a bottle or two of the Evan Williams SB around, but the days of good inexpensive scotch have been gone for awhile now. I know of no scotch that currently interests me that is under $50.

Thanks for all the replies. I've had many of the ones listed, and consensus seems to be that other than the Van Winkles that are hard to find and very expensive, the 20 to 50 dollar bourbons I've been drinking are the best way to go.

I'm going to have to try some of the scotches mentioned though.

I've had Laphroaig, Talisker 10 and Balvenie Doublewood, and liked all those.

From the Scotch side, I like Dalmore 16 and from the Bourbon side Four Roses Single barrel are reasonably priced and very enjoyable.

Macallan 12 good stuff. Not Bunnahabhain 18 but it will do considering the cost difference.

MACALLAN 12 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKEY .750

$56.99
+$24.28 shipping. No tax
LiquorLiquidators.com

Bunnahabhain 18
$118.99
+$13.00 shipping. No tax
WineAnthology.com

Glenfarclas 10 Year Old and Glenmorangie 10 Year Old are great for their price bracket.

Highland Park 18 yr
Jameson 12 yr

On the Scotch side Balvenie Doublewood 12yr and Highland Park 18yr. Laphroaig every now and then.

stranahans Colorado,George T Stagg and Blantons are some American whiskeys I like.

I've tried Red Breast and other Irish whiskey, while good I wasnt blown away by it like many are.

Those are about as much as i'm willing to spend. I've had Pappy, while really good it dont make much difference because you cant find the stuff.

Bourbons:

- Rock Hill Farm
- Weller 107 Antique
- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Scotch:

- Glenfiddich 15 Year
- Glenfarclas 17 Year

Another vote for Laphroaig (10) here. I'm partial to the heavy peat scotch. I'll drink Talisker if the Laphroaig bottle is empty.

Like many things, the value or worth can only be evaluated by the one doing the purchasing. If the individual feels that the enjoyment or satisfaction the item in question provides for him is commensurate with the cost, then that item is worth its price. A caveat that should be considered is that the person's perception of what qualifies as "worthy" does not give him the right to denigrate the less costly choice made by someone else.

Glenfiddich 12 year when I'm drinking scotch and the fantastic 18 year on special occasions

eagle rare when im drinking borbon

I could drink nothing but those 3 for the rest of my life and be a happy man

Awhile back, somebody posted about the small whiskey barrels that you can fill with cheap whiskey.

The poster said to fill a fifth sized barrel with Jim Beam and come back in 8 weeks for a pleasant surprise.

I hope to try that, but for now I will stick with JD. That has worked for me for over forty years.

I'd never had Elijah Craig until I saw it reco'ed here .

Saw some at local liquor store and decided to try it.

Very smooth and tasty. We opened it last night and four of us polished it off, drinking it neat, though I did add an ice cube to my wife's second glass per her request

Sorry math man, I love the old gal

It's a moderately priced whiskey ime

I quite enjoyed it.

It won't be the last time it graces our cabinet

Sorry, just not a fan. Last summer, I picked up a bottle of Blantons on the advice of some old guy on here, and just didn't really enjoy it, though I tried to the bitter end. Just not a whiskey guy I guess.

I also got a bottle of "better" gin, with the botanicals naturally infused by soaking the herbs and such in the gin rather than using extracts, and distilled in copper kettles. It was interesting, but not something I'd choose to drink straight either. Made a good gimlet and gin & tonic though. Must be something lacking in my DNA.

Try Bookers, Bakers, and Basil Hayden. Three good, and very different, bourbons. Hard to find someone that doesn't like at least one of them.
You might find the need to spend more unnecessary.

Blantons or Pappy if you are buying. Grin

Cheap doesn't mean your getting a good bourbon. Like many things you have to find an acceptable balance between cost and taste.

One of my favorite bourbons that's reasonable in Bulleit, Makers 46, next and slightly more into the expensive area in Bib & Tucker. I like Old Grand dad when I get a chance to pick it up but with a state run liquor fiasco many good ones aren't around.

I like Highland Park and Laphroaig. Lagavulin is a step up for me.

Macallan cask strength was a nice gift from my SIL. I don't think I can afford to replace it so it will be used very carefully.

Single Malt Scotches are a whole different thing. I've tried Laphroaig and thought it tasted like mouthwash. I also tried a couple other Islays and wasn't impressed.

My favorite is a Balvenie 21 PortWood though I don't buy it very often. It is amazing.

My go to is a Dalwhinnie 15, or The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask.