511080 Sun Apr 20 05:50:09 -0700 2008 52 36 Spirits 0 3611613 I've been working on a blog and my main focus is to provide a list of reviews on good moderately priced liquor. Now, I've noticed a big difference in some prices from California. But as far as pricing I'm trying to take the whole of USA into consideration. Anyway, my goal is to be able to recommend several different brands in each liquor category... i.e., gin, vodka, whisky, rum, tequila, brandy etc...., that are good inexpensive brands. Liquors that are under $30.00 and preferably under $20.00. (keeping in mind the cost all across the country). But I'm also looking for "good" decent brands in this category. Brands that don't totally taste like ethanol, brands that aren't totally bland and tasteless, brands that are distilled good, with less impurities so the after effects are minimal. And especially, brands that you have found acceptable for everyday drinking and that you would offer to guests when they come over. Here is my very short list as an example. Vodka - Tito's Handmade Vodka - $30.00 for a half gallon. Or Luksusowa Vodka - around $13.00 a fifth. Gin - Beefeaters - can usually be found on sale for around $20.00 a fifth. Rum - Sailor Jerry's Spiced Rum - around $18.00 a fifth. Bourbon - Elijah Craig - around $30.00 for a half gallon. Scotch - White Horse - William Grant's and Teacher's - between $16.00 to $20.00 a fifth. Brandy - E&J XO - around $17.00 a fifth. Tequila - Sauza Hornitos Anejo - around $35.00 a fifth. (tequila is expensive and I have found no acceptable sipping tequila under $30.00) What I'm trying to do is suggest brands that would also be acceptable to drink neat and not just for mixing. So what are your recommendations, I would love to hear them.... also keeping in mind that I'm mainly interested in brands that are widely available. Sun Apr 20 05:50:09 -0700 2008 181130 theginguy 1 3616097 Interesting topic. In the bourbon/whiskey area, I like Evan Williams Single Barrel at about $25 and Jim Beam Rye (yellow label) at about $18. For rum, I like Cruzan Blackstrap and Whaler's Original Dark at about $10-12. For tequila, I like Cazadores Reposado at about $25-30. These are all for 750s and prices are about what I pay in California. Mon Apr 21 14:24:09 -0700 2008 3611613 159754 ed1066 1 3616413 Bourbon - Old Forester - ~ $15 / 750 mL El Jimador Reposado - ~ $20 / 750 mL Mon Apr 21 15:45:38 -0700 2008 3611613 23762 Papa Kip Chee 2 3807715 El Jimador is agave mixed with grain alcohol. This is not sipping tequila and is not healthy for you. Please do not consider this tequila. Mon Jun 23 23:02:48 -0700 2008 3616413 23657 MichaelG 3 3944939 The implication of this comment seems to be that alcohol distilled from grain is somehow less healthy than alcohol distilled from agave, which I don't think is true: they are equally unhealthy Or are you saying that El Jimador contains other adulterants or congeners that make it unhealthy? I'd be curious to get more details on this. I can say from anecdotal experience that it's a bad idea to buy no-name vodkas, for instance, as they seem to cause more nex-day suffering, so I always at a minimum look for a charcoal-filtered vodka -- my inexpensive standbys are Smirnoff and Skyy. (I think most super-premium vodkas are a swindle for the gullible and the brand-obsessed, a triumph of marketing and packaging rather than actual craft). Now if you are saying that sipping a mixto rather than a pure-agave tequila is unhealthy for your reputation as a discriminating drinker, I would agree. Sun Aug 10 10:54:46 -0700 2008 3807715 10143 MC Slim JB 4 4038607 Or you could buy bad vodka and run it though a Brita filter =D I wonder if that works. Tue Sep 16 06:12:20 -0700 2008 3944939 208595 The Chemist 1 3617444 I'd add Spirinoff vodka (ranked #1 by NYTimes against Grey Goose and others). Puerta Vallarta is the cheapest 100% agave tequila I've seen. The problem with El Jimador (recommended above) is its a mixto - that's 49% grain alcohol and 51% agave - hangover city! Mon Apr 21 21:55:13 -0700 2008 3611613 23657 MichaelG 2 3638151 'Grain alcohol'... what do you think is in all those fancy 'premium' vodkas? It's all ethanol. Drink too much, and you'll feel bad. I don't believe there's a panacea in 100% Agave. To each his own... Mon Apr 28 17:20:34 -0700 2008 3617444 23762 Papa Kip Chee 3 3638800 My point is, if you drink vodka, you'll most likely be fine unless you drink the whole bottle. If you drink 100% agave all night, same thing. But mix vodka and tequila (which is essentially what mixto is) and I believe the hangover will be worse. Maybe it's just me, but I find that if I stick to one acohol, I generally avoid hangovers. Start with a cocktail, then move on to wine, and finish with a cognac, and it just doesn't feel that great the next day. Mon Apr 28 22:26:34 -0700 2008 3638151 23657 MichaelG 4 3641088 fair enough - I usually randomize the drink options the whole night, if I don't have to drive...and then knowingly pay for the fun the next day! Tue Apr 29 15:21:03 -0700 2008 3638800 23762 Papa Kip Chee 1 3619387 Ron Abuelo Anejo for rum. I know you can find it for under $14 a fifth. Terrific value, although I am not about to give up the Barbancourt. If you prefer Sailor Jerry to this, one might also jump to the assumption that Cisco Red is something you think of as a fine vintage wine. Tue Apr 22 12:23:07 -0700 2008 3611613 18017 Captain 1 3621905 I like the Smirnoff family for less expensive, smoothness, including their flavors. Seagrams for ryes and whiskey and CC. Agree with Eand J Wed Apr 23 07:56:21 -0700 2008 3611613 133355 jspear 1 3637147 I agree with you about Tito's, it is a good vodka for any price, much less $30 or so for a handle. Another gin recommendation, although I'm cutting it close price-wise - it's $30: http://www.3luxe.com/best_ofs/Gin/Martin_Miller's_London_Dry_Gin That said, if you are drinking it in martinis or other drinks where the gin is the star, it might be worth it - save the cheaper stuff for more complicated mixed drinks. Mon Apr 28 12:35:23 -0700 2008 3611613 163375 jazspin 1 3638351 Vodka - Tito's and Luksusowa are both good, but Moskovskaya is simple, clean, and dirt cheap. Back in the days of the CCCP, I think it was the domestic label for what was exported as Stolichnaya. Gin - Like the Beefeaters call. Hendricks and Plymouth both come in under your maximum price, too. But Gordon's--at $15 / half gallon on sale--is a true bargain: good gin at a great price. I like it in a martini. Bourbon - can't ignore Jim Beam. Scotch - is Teacher's available in California? Haven't seen the stuff in years. The best moderately-priced blend around here is The Famous Grouse. FWIW... Mon Apr 28 18:29:49 -0700 2008 3611613 58743 alanbarnes 2 3639831 Agreed on Gordon's Gin for the budget concerns. A very nice martini. Also Old Overholt rye, Ballantine's blended scotch -- bonus points for the wonderfully classic "bellboy, bring me a bottle of scotch" bottle and label. Tue Apr 29 09:48:25 -0700 2008 3638351 13780 Up With Olives 3 3976082 I give the nod to Ballantines Finest as well. Other great scotches for the price: Tomatin $24.99, single malt, and Bowmore Legend, for $19.99. The Bowmore is very young 6-8 yr. old single malt. Fabulous stuff if you're into a more aggressivley young and smoky scotch. Rum- anything Cruzan silver and gold. I feel they are the best value out there at roughly 12-13 a bottle. Their 5yr sippin' scotch is great @ just 16.99. I really like Napoleon Brandy as well for 10.99. I use it to mix with Benedictine for a real B&B. Stock Amaretto is good in a pinch at 10.99 as well. Thu Aug 21 13:46:14 -0700 2008 3639831 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 2 4066744 For the money, Jim Beam is hard to beat. Sat Sep 27 18:39:48 -0700 2008 3638351 60617 rednyellow 1 3757867 Woodford Reserve - fantastic bourbon $29.00 for 750ml Glenmorangie 10 - great scotch usually around $39.00 Fri Jun 06 19:05:32 -0700 2008 3611613 197838 CA Scotch Chick 2 3759770 Finlaggen scotch from Trader Joes if you can find it. Sat Jun 07 21:08:36 -0700 2008 3757867 90689 ozbuc 3 3765980 I don't much care for Finlagen for drinking, but it's great for marinating tri-tip. I don't recall the price, but Trader Joe's has a 10 year old Macallen that I prefer for drinking. Tue Jun 10 05:32:32 -0700 2008 3759770 80769 David Carlson 1 3759938 Vodka - Can't beat Titio's. Great stuff. Monopolowa - Polish potato vodka that you can get for 1L for $9.99 at TJs is probably the best value ever. Rum - Barbancourt 5 star - a delicious sipping rum aged 8 years you can get for $19.99 (Rum is surprisingly affordable if you find the lesser known good brands.) Bourbon - Big fan of Evan Williams, normal stuff is easily on par with Jack at a fraction of the cost Tequila - Oreindain Ollitas - now this one is difficult to find but its a great value at <$20 for 100% agave. Sun Jun 08 00:48:39 -0700 2008 3611613 82632 trojandude 2 3951387 Not to be too nitpicky, but Monopolowa is Austrian, not Polish, and it is a fantastic value at Trader Joe's @ $9.99 for 1L. Great for gimlets and martinis, it is very clean with little aftertaste. I'm also a big fan of Evan Williams, particularly the Single Barrel designations, for about $24.00 at BevMo, they are a great deal. But even the EW black label is great at about $8.99. Tue Aug 12 15:44:54 -0700 2008 3759938 159754 ed1066 3 4018224 ed1066, Have you tried the Monolopowa Gin? It's fairly new. Mon Sep 08 13:44:44 -0700 2008 3951387 60603 TroyTempest 1 3763959 Vodka- Smirnoff's, Monoploya, Tito's Gin-Plymouth, Beefeater's Bourbon- Beam Black, Bulleit, Scotch- Dalemore (10 y/o single), Grouse blended Tequila-Sauza Hornitos Reposada Rum- Barbancourt 5 star, Cruzan estate. These are my rec's although the only ones of these we drink regularly are the Vodkas the Plymouth, and thr Sauza. Budget allows higher quality, of which we avail ourselves in the brown liquors. Mon Jun 09 12:30:51 -0700 2008 3611613 106255 chazzerking 1 3764959 Vodka -- Smirnoff, Skyy Gin -- Plymouth used to be cheap, but is now priced more like a super-premium (~$30), alas; Gordon's is still a great value. Rye -- Old Overholt (super-cheap, but a bit rough) and "Baby" (6-year-old) Sazerac Blended Scotch -- The Famous Grouse and Grant's Tequila -- Cazadores, El Tesoro (two good pure-agaves with little marketing mark-up) Brandy -- for Sidecars only: E&J, Christian Brothers Orange liqueur -- Marie Brizzard Triple Sec, a lovely alternative to Cointreau for ~$20 Mon Jun 09 17:04:02 -0700 2008 3611613 10143 MC Slim JB 2 3796332 I've found Plymouth at Blanchard's in Allston and the Harvard Wine Shop on Mass Ave in Cambridge (the one across from the hair salon closer to Porter, NOT the one near the Law School), for about $16. Last time I bought a bottle at each was a few weeks ago. I hope the high prices you're seeing are the result of unscrupulous liquor store proprietors, and not the distiller jacking up prices. Thu Jun 19 20:36:23 -0700 2008 3764959 20717 sailormouth 2 3800601 Slightly off topic, but do you know where to find the Sazerac 18 in the Boston area? Sat Jun 21 12:20:42 -0700 2008 3764959 65478 davis_sq_pro 3 3945096 You shouldn't have any trouble finding it. I looked it up on the Buffalo Trace website and used their little availability matrix. Nice tool. http://www.buffalotrace.com/main.asp?page=retailers Sun Aug 10 12:26:52 -0700 2008 3800601 145885 Hadacol 3 3947662 Brix or a friendly bartender are probably your best bets. Brix does a good job of making the 6 year available, which my local merchant has been unable to coax out of the distributor (Buffalo Trace is becoming a bit easier). Mon Aug 11 12:39:52 -0700 2008 3800601 12962 itaunas 1 3766082 Vodka- pretty much stick w/ Stoli Gin- ditto Beefeater Rum- we don't do spiced; one of the Appletons is a value and a big step above Bacardi Bourbon- ditto Evan Wm.s Single Barrel for value; I'd go with Rittenhouse over Old Overholt for $5-6 more Tequila- just finished up a bottle of Pueblo Viejo reposado (100% agave, <$20); definitely was a bargain but I've only seen it at one ATL shop that's in a very Latin area Tue Jun 10 06:21:32 -0700 2008 3611613 12626 ted 1 3768802 Vodka - I was a big fan of Smirnoff, until I discovered Sobieski, a rye vodka from Poland. Gin - Gordon's over Beefeater. Plymouth is my favorite but priced at $32 Bourbon - Old Overholt Scotch - (blended) Ballantine Tue Jun 10 19:46:12 -0700 2008 3611613 71633 jerryc123 1 3792665 I like Lukoskova potato vodka. For sidecars, current selection is Chateau des Plassons, in general the cheapest french actual cognac with VS or VSOP on the label. (There is excellent non-french brandy, but it's expensive...) Wild Turkey both bourbon and rye, not the cheapest but excellent and great value. Wed Jun 18 18:12:02 -0700 2008 3611613 19370 jajjguy 2 3818200 That's Luksusowa. It's been my vodka of choice for years, although I haven't been drinking as much vodka as I used to. It's inexpensive, but it regularly ranks with or beats most of the super-premiums twice its price, because it's made how vodka should be made and it tastes like vodka should taste. I'm thinking I may finally pull the trigger on getting a bottle of Plymouth gin -- I do keep hearing over and over again how great it is. Does anyone know if the Plymouth sloe gin ever made it into Boston stores? Fri Jun 27 00:48:53 -0700 2008 3792665 17548 BarmyFotheringayPhipps 1 3794094 Here's another one: Glenrothes Select Reserve. It is an excellent scotch for as low as 39.99. I tried it last night and found it to be quite good. I had only had their more expensive offerings before. CA Scotch Chick www.scotchchix.com Thu Jun 19 08:31:40 -0700 2008 3611613 197838 CA Scotch Chick 1 3796355 Korbel Brandy in a walk. Costco has the 1.5 liter bottle for about $13.95 and I think it's as good as both E&J and Christian Bros.' XO grades (Korbel has only a single grade) Brandy's the only hard stuff I drink, so I can't comment on the others. Thu Jun 19 20:46:48 -0700 2008 3611613 131118 Xiao Yang 1 3798155 I think Wild Turkey is very good for the price. I think a lot of alcohol where I live is cheaper than in other parts of the country but I can get 750 ML for $19.99. Stoli is a little $ but for vodka I really like it. I think Skyy and Smirnoff are also acceptable. Fri Jun 20 12:00:28 -0700 2008 3611613 103418 cor 1 3800866 Poland Select Vodka...$19.99 per bottle and it blows the doors off any top shelk vodka out there. SMOOOOTH as can be. Sat Jun 21 15:04:10 -0700 2008 3611613 168280 vino5150 2 3801257 Buffalo Trace is my favorite sub-$20 bourbon. Bulleit, Beam Black, Elijah Craig, W.L. Weller's reserve and Old Ezra 7 yr/101 are good choices as well. Evan Williams black label is my 'cooking bourbon', a good choice if someone wants a bourbon and coke. Rye - Old Overholt, Rittenhouse 100, Wild Turkey 101 rye Blended scotch - Grants and Teachers, White Horse. If you're really on a budget Clan MacGregor is blended by the same man who blends Grants. Fewer 'name' singlemalts, but still pretty tasty. He's very good at his job. Gin - Beefeater's, Gordons, Seagrams Distiller's Reserve. Beefeater's is my fave. Gordon's gin (and their vodka) is copper distilled (getting rare in US white liquors), and all three of these are distilled with the botanicals rather than with a later added infusion. All three make a tasty martini. Burnett's is decent 'well' liquor in Gin and Juice or a Seabreeze, another 'distilled with botanicals' choice. I like Plymouth but it's no longer sub $20 here. Vodka - Most Wanted (multi-distilled local product) Stoli, Finlandia and Svedka. I hear good things about Sobieski but we don't have local access. Burnett's is a decent 'well' choice for juice/mixed drinks. Rum - Gosling's Black Seal, Cruzan 2 yr, Appleton's. Bacardi Solera Irish - Powers, Jameson Brandy - Another vote for Korbel. Maxim's cognac offers great QPR if you can find it. Sat Jun 21 19:05:51 -0700 2008 3800866 59865 texascarl 3 5195537 +1 for Finlandia & Svedka. Thu Nov 19 20:52:25 -0800 2009 3801257 1125966 venividibitchy 1 3818230 Rum...Ron del Barralito 3 star PuertoRican , Barbancourt 5 star Haitian, Goslings Black Seal Bermudan. Bourbon.. Woodford Reserve Tequilla..Sauza Hornitos, For a Margarita I love Sauza Conmemorativo (a mixto), Cointreau and fresh lime juice. Fri Jun 27 02:02:19 -0700 2008 3611613 28638 phantomdoc 1 3944632 Just bought Plymouth gin 750 ml. $16.99 and Barbancourt 5 star 750ml. $17.99 at The wine market. http://www.winemarketny.com/ You must bring the ad and pay cash. Print the ad from website. They also have Gordons gin 1.75 lt.$15.99 Gilby gin 1.75 lt. $16.99 Sun Aug 10 08:14:04 -0700 2008 3611613 28638 phantomdoc 1 3975127 How about suggestions for inexpensive rums for mixing mojitos? My wife likes Bacardi, and I like Appleton. I think she just doesn't like the coloring of the Appleton I buy (IIRC, the "Special Gold") when mixed in a mojito. I bought a bottle of Cruzan to make a batch for a function the other day, and it smells a bit odd (higher alcohols). Definitely not looking for spiced, and anejo seems overkill. I like Wray & Nephew Overproof for its huge cane nose, but it's actually expensive due to alcohol content (and hard for me to mix so that the results don't curl your eyelashes). Thu Aug 21 09:02:11 -0700 2008 3611613 12626 ted 2 3976058 The 2Yr. Cruzan Silver rum is what your looking for. It is stellar stuff for 12.99 per 750ml. The 2 yr. gold rum is also fabulous. also not spiced. Thu Aug 21 13:39:57 -0700 2008 3975127 217582 cannedmilkandfruitypebbles 2 3976970 There must be some other good white rum. I would agree with the Cruzan recommendation, but please get your wife off the Bacardi. Have her try it straight anf just feel the super duper burn. It mixes well, cause it loses its weak character. Thu Aug 21 19:08:25 -0700 2008 3975127 154307 Xaga 3 3977269 Although not truly "white", the Ten Cane light is excellent for mixing .It makes a terrific mojito . Thu Aug 21 21:35:10 -0700 2008 3976970 106255 chazzerking 4 3977676 But, unless I'm mistaken, the 10 Cane ain't cheap. I almost picked up Brugal instead of the Cruzan when I bought it. I just looked and the Cruzan is the "Estate Light." Fri Aug 22 06:08:16 -0700 2008 3977269 12626 ted 5 3981648 Cruzan costs between $17 and $20 in this area (MA), while 10 Cane costs about $10 more. So while not as cheap, it's still not extremely pricey (although for a light rum, that is getting up there). Personally, I like both of them equally well, and find that each has its own charm; the 10 Cane is creamier and more flavorful, the Cruzan lighter, more refreshing, perhaps a touch smoother. Not that you would probably notice the smoothness difference when they're mixed with lime and sugar... Sat Aug 23 19:07:12 -0700 2008 3977676 65478 davis_sq_pro 1 3981673 I'm not sure if my taste is very discriminating, but I would like to nominate Whaler's Rum. It is a dark rum with a heavy vanilla taste and is very affordable! Maybe I'm just a cheap date. Sat Aug 23 19:21:09 -0700 2008 3611613 221013 Dave Childress 2 4017562 Most everything listed isn't excactly cheap. Here's my list of best mixers and some are quite good on their own. Almost everything is under $15 and some of them are under $10. Bourbon: Evan Williams 1783, Fighting Cock Rye: Rittenhouse, Jim Beam Vodka: Smirnoff, Lukskowa(previously mentioned) Rum: Anything Cruzan, Castillo(is actually bacardi, but cheaper) Tequila: Sauza Applejack: Captain Applejack(actually Laird's) Gin: Seagrams, Bombay Dry Gin(not Sapphire) Mon Sep 08 10:36:06 -0700 2008 3981673 163247 initialdrew 1 4040511 My husband lovs Sailor Jerry's, it is his absolute favorite. For Vodkas I have to say my favorite is one I cannot pronounce (it is russian standard potato vodka) Tue Sep 16 18:17:33 -0700 2008 3611613 54116 gryphonskeeper 1 4102415 Vodka - Svedka - $19.99 Spiced Rum - Admiral Nelson's - About $10 cheaper than Captain Morgan and quite comparable Mon Oct 13 18:59:10 -0700 2008 3611613 232429 FLBoy 2 4104995 One thing we're certainly seeing here is the variety of pricing, not just state to state, but even block to block. The Plymouth Gin price swing is intense here in Boston. As sailormouth noted, it's $15.99 at Blanchard's (and Marty's) in Allston, MA. $22 at most other locations. I have seen it go as ridiculously high as $36 a bottle here as well. My fav dark rum, Ron Matusalem Gran Reserva is usually now $33 a bottle, but it could be had at Marty's recently for $28! That said, they have the lovely St Germaine and Domaine De Canton at $39.99 (with Blanchards down the road keeping pace at those prices) while it's $7-$8 cheaper almost everywhere else... Of course they had the Canton for an astonishingly low $20 for a while- I kick myself for not buying more! What am I saying here? I guess I'm saying that it really REALLY can pay to shop around and keep a keen eye on prices. What is a premium priced liquor in one shop can be a real bargain right next door! THAT said, my fav general affordably-priced booze will always include Old Overholt, Applejack, Gosling's Black Seal, Plymouth Gin, Eagle Rare 10 yr (okay, maybe a bit up there, but damn!), Tue Oct 14 20:16:18 -0700 2008 4102415 160067 Scortch 1 5195544 Whatever you do, don't even consider purchasing Bacardi's "Premium Select" rum in the brown bottle. It was not even ingestible to myself or my Husband -- and we both can palate anything short of lighter fluid. Thu Nov 19 20:56:17 -0800 2009 3611613 1125966 venividibitchy