Best Bargains in Booze

[PetersCreek]

I'll echo the recommendations for both the Jim Beam and Old Overholt rye whiskies.

As for others, well, I'm not much of a cocktailer except for my summertime mint juleps...in which quality really does make a difference. So I generally don't look for mixer bargains. I don't mind finding a good casual quaff at a fair price, though.

It's not available in my local shops but I recently sampled the Ezra Brooks at my favorite bourbon bar and found it quite pleasant. At a similar price point, I'm also fond of Bufallo Trace, Eagle Rare, Bulleit on occasion, and when I find myself in an establishment where the bartender thinks Jack Daniels is a bourbon, I'll gladly take a Maker's Mark, if available.

[Sparafucile]

Sazerac has a 6 year-old rye at the same price point as the Wild Turkey 101 (recently hard to find) which is $22 in NJ. Doesn't compare to the Sazerac 18 year old, but the price is right!

[mgaretz]

I just noticed that our local TJs has Rebel Yell back in stock at $9.99.

[Mayur]

Laird's 100 proof bonded apple brandy.

[Landru]

Paul Masson Brandy - cheap and surprisingly useful as a brandy.

Edited March 10, 2011 by Landru (log)

[campus five]

Dave Wondrich mentioned the Paul Masson VSOP in an Esquire column on cheap spirits a year or two ago.

I use it in Embury's Brandy Punch all the time. I can get it here in CA for $11-12. Too bad I haven't seen it in a 1.75L - that'd make some really good, really cheap punch.