The Best bourbons under $30

I was asked by the DrinkWire team to compile a list of my favorite bourbons and American Whiskies under $30.What a great idea. When I turn people on to some great bourbons and American Whiskies people always ask, “but where do I find these?I don’t see them in my local stores.”I respond, “You all are always looking on the top shelves for your bourbon finds, but you gotta look DOWN.There’s a lot of diamonds in the rough down there on the lower shelves.”

Here’s my list; now go out and get ya some!

Evan Williams Vintage Single Barrel $25 Single Barrel bourbon that’s between 8-10 years old - 86.6 Proof the only vintage dated single barrel bourbon around, this smooth hand-picked bourbon has been named “whiskey of the year” 5 different times! Nuff Said.

Elijah Craig 12 year old $25 Small Batch -12 year old - 94 proof One of if the oldest age stated nationally distributed bourbons around. It’s not always about age, but you can’t deny that most distilleries would kill to have a 12 year old small release or highly allocated, and Heaven Hill produces one nationally and readily available!

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch $17 – Small Batch – 7 year old flavor profile; 86 Proof no age statement, but they shoot for a 7 year flavor profile, and this one stood out at the World Whiskies Conference in New York at Whisky Live when the crowd of whisk(e)y writers/bloggers/experts blind tasted this whiskey against Elijah Craig 23 year old, and half the crowd thought that the Evan Williams 1783 was the $200 bottle of bourbon!I’d say this is worth a try at under $20.

Rittenhouse Rye – Bottled In Bond $25 – Bottled in Bond – 100 Proof The most sought after and allocated rye whiskey in the world, Rittenhouse is the darling of cocktail bars and consumers around the world.I just got back from Europe and everyone there wants more Rittenhouse too!

Fighting Cock $20 – 6 years old - 103 Proof Don’t pay attention to the name…it’s higher proof, but the 6 years in the barrel make this actually a smooth delightful bourbon.It was named Fighting Cock to go up against Wild Turkey.