Thread: Cheap but good

OK, I'm not a big booze snob, but I know good when I taste it...

Evan Williams single barrel bourbon is freaking fantastic. If you can find it, it's TOTALLY worth the $25 dollars for a bottle. This ain't the usual Evan Williams stuff, it's fantastic.

I can never get ahold of this stuff, outside of holiday packages and occasional obscure store sales, but damn... it's good when you can get it. I eagerly wait every year, hoping it will be available where I am currently living (wherever that may be).


Also, Buffalo Trace bourbon: it's not rare, but it's damn good stuff too, and for $20 a bottle, it will hold it's own with single barrel bourbon at twice the price. It's a little sweet for my taste (I like scotch), but it's so damn good.


Also, Cruzan rum.... check it out! Super cheap, but highly rated. Get it before they catch on and raise the price! Their Black Strap rum is awesome, as is the dark and 'clear' varieties... best widely available rum out there AFAIK.

Gotta follow that up with what I'm drinking tonight. I paid $27 for it:

Presidente Brandy, good for what ails you, especially in weather like we are having in KC!

I have seen the Presidente around, haven't tried it yet...

Four roses? I have to see if I can root up some of that.

I'll second Buffalo Trace and add Elmer T. Lee and Wild Turkey 101. All decent pours at very decent prices.

Let us not forget "Old Ezra" and my favorite - Bookers

Just don't drink Bookers while using a Boker

Originally Posted by SteveS

I'll second Buffalo Trace and add Elmer T. Lee and Wild Turkey 101. All decent pours at very decent prices.

I have a special place in my heart for Turkey 101. Never tried the Elmer T. Lee though.

Originally Posted by kilowattkid

Let us not forget "Old Ezra" and my favorite - Bookers

Just don't drink Bookers while using a Boker

I haven't given Old Ezra a fair shot, I tried it after too many previous drinks, so was a bit biased.

A friend of mine swears by Bookers.

I cannot comment on the bourbon suggestions as I know very little abut this spirit. However, I very respectfully disagree with your choice of rum. Cruzan rums are not the best rums in the market, with the exception of the the Single Barrel. This one, like any single barrel, is susceptible to variations from bottle to bottle. The Black Strap in particular is a "navy" rum and it is fairly unidimensional and in my humble opinion, good only for mixing. Considering that the good rums sell for under $70, I would spend a little more and drink something of better quality. Examples to consider are: Zacapa Centenario, Cacique Antiguo, Pampero aniversario, Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva and Flor de Ca~a 21. If you do not want to pay that much but still would like to drink something good, I suggest that you try any of these:

Estelar A~ejo, Diplomatico A~ejo, Flor de Ca~a 7 and Ocumare A~ejo.

Ron Estelar Anejo (except for the mojito mix, these are ALL exceptional for the price).

Al raz.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Presidente Brandy, good for what ails you, especially in weather like we are having in KC!

Also fantastic in margaritas! The cheapest, bestest margarita you can make (in my humble opinion) is made with Presidente brandy, Sauza Gold tequila, Cointreau (Triple Sec if you really want to go cheap), and Sweet and Sour mix. The initial outlay is expensive, but it'll keep you in quality margaritas for a long time. It depends on who's drinking it and how wasted they want to get, but I like to do an ounce of tequila, an ounce of brandy, 1.5 ounces of Cointreau, and the rest Sweet and Sour- I do most of it by sight, so measurements are approximations. Shake 'em up with ice, then pour in a glass with or without the ice. The fun part about these is you can make them taste so good, no one realizes how much alcohol there is in it and they guzzle them. They make for easy sipping, and everyone of all ages enjoy them.