7 Bourbons Under $50 That Drink Way Above Their Price
The bourbon market has gone completely sideways in the last few years. Bottles that used to sit on shelves for $30 are now allocated and flipped for triple digits. The good news? There are still excellent bottles sitting right there, collecting dust, because they don’t have the hype machine behind them.
These seven bottles all retail under $50, and every single one of them would hold up against bottles twice the price in a blind tasting.
1. Wild Turkey 101
This is the one I always come back to. At around $25, it’s arguably the best value in all of bourbon. The 101 proof gives it enough backbone to stand up in cocktails while still being perfectly sippable neat. Caramel, vanilla, a bit of spice on the finish. Classic.
Wild Turkey 101
$25
2. Buffalo Trace
The gateway bourbon that’s actually worth the hype. Smooth, approachable, with notes of toffee and dried fruit. The only downside is availability has gotten spotty in some markets due to demand. If you see it on the shelf, grab it.
Buffalo Trace
$28
3. Evan Williams Single Barrel
This is the sleeper of the list. A single barrel bourbon for under $35 is almost unheard of. Each vintage is slightly different, which keeps things interesting. Rich, oaky, with a long finish that has no business being on a bottle at this price point.
Evan Williams Single Barrel
$32
The Takeaway
Stop chasing allocated bottles and secondary market markups. The best bourbon is the one you can actually find and afford to drink regularly. Every bottle on this list delivers quality that would make a $100 bottle nervous.
Start with Wild Turkey 101. If you disagree, I owe you a pour.