Recommendations: Six Whiskeys Under $50 To Give or Get Yourself
Because buying someone a nice bottle shouldn't cost you a pair of Jordans.
We’re nearly two years in on isolation and quarantine because of this pandemic, but one of the few benefits has been the opportunity to really load up on stocking the bar with more quality whiskeys.
Of course, the challenge in stocking up is that you reach for the top-shelf finds, hunt for the bottles you love and the ones you’ve been dying to try. As a result, you end up drinking a bit of the collection.
Needless to say, but whiskey collecting can quickly become an expensive hobby. That hobby doesn’t always have to cost a pair of Jordan’s when hitting your favorite liquor store (or Instacart). Maybe it could cost a pair of Nike slides instead.
Plus, Christmas is two days away, and if you know someone who appreciates whiskey, spending upwards of $50 on a bottle is definitely a worthy gift.
Here are six whiskeys that could be you or someone you love’s next daily sipper, cocktail enhancer, or the next bottle that surprises your friends with how good it is…even if it cost as much as a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors.
Pinhook Flagship Bourbon Whiskey, $38 at Total Wine
To me, this is a perfect bottle to buy as a go-to sipper. It’s priced just right so that you won’t take it down too fast but you’ll feel good about sharing it with friends. Pinhook website boasts aromas of orange blossom, nutmeg, and fresh-roasted coffee, but I got vibes of Honey Nut Cheerios as well. In the mouth, I get a bit of Werther’s Original, wheat toast and sweet spices.
Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey, $47 at Total Wine
With all due respect to Jameson, there are other Irish whiskeys that are deserving of your attention, and the folks at Teeling are one of them. We shared Teeling with our BLC LA group in 2018 and everyone left pleasantly surprised. Werther’s Original on the nose. Almost S’mores like on the tongue. Raisin bread accents on the finish.
Vicomte Single Malt French Whiskey, $48 at Total Wine
True story. The first time I had this was when my next-door neighbor’s girlfriend broke up with him. We talked, and he invited me into his apartment and broke this stuff out. I’d never been happier to know someone had fallen out with their partner. (She wasn’t that cute anyway, bruh.) This thing feels more powerful than the 86-proof listing, as the aging in the cognac barrels gives it some real body. Smells like Apple Jacks and Tiramisu. On the palate is nothing but cinnamon and vanilla wafers. The finish is dangerously smooth, with notes of cardamon and cider.
Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon, $45 at Total Wine
The fact that it won a Gold Medal at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition should be enough. However, this 90-proof bourbon is buttery and the sweet notes of vanilla and french toast seem to linger beyond the initial sip. Felt like a steal.
High West American Prairie Bourbon, $35 at Total Wine
Yes, whiskey is made in Utah, and the spirits that High West produces (along with a Utah Jazz game) might make it worthwhile enough for me to make another trip to Salt Lake City when COVID-19 is no longer a thing. High West blends together two, six and thirteen-year-old bourbon for a 92-proof spirit. Honey Nut Cheerios on the nose. Caramel popcorn on the nose. Slight bite and a smooth burn on the finish.
Uncle Nearest 1884, $46 at Total Wine
Over the course of this newsletter, we will do various deep dives about Uncle Nearest and it’s award-winning Tennessee Whiskey. You buy this whiskey as a gift for more than the “butterscotch candy out of your grandma’s purse at church” taste and floral vanilla finish … you buy it for the story. One time to Fawn Weaver. One time to supporting Black distilleries producing Black-owned juice.
What are your favorite sips under $50? Share your top choices in the comments section so we can all bask in the glory of affordable whiskey!
I second that Teeling Single Grain. It is a great, enjoyable pour.