This scotch captures all the flavors of the island: the menthol notes of the peat, the brine of the ocean and the smoke that incorporates it all.īest for Sipping: Speyburn Bradan Orach Single Malt at Total Wine It’s beautiful and approachable like a good Speyside should be, but that doesn’t mean it lacks oomph.īest Islay: Ardbeg 10-Year-Old Single Malt at Drizly This 12-year-old entry scotch speaks to the heart and soul of its distillery,īest Smoky: Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Islay Single Malt at DrizlyĪlthough smoke is prominent, it’s not overpowering, and that’s what makes this scotch so good.īest Speyside: Glenfiddich 12-Year-Old Single Malt at Drizly The world’s bestselling scotch whisky, first created by grocer John Walker in the 1820s, is our top choice for its flavor and value.īest for Cocktails: Bowmore 12-Year-Old Single Malt at Drizlyīoasting beautifully balanced flavors, this scotch is particularly great with a classic cocktail that’s not too fussy.īest Single Malt: The Balvenie 12-Year-Old DoubleWood at Drizly There’s a little spiced vanilla flavor to it, along with a bit of oak from the 6 months it spends aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels.Best Overall: Johnnie Walker Black Label 12-Year-Old at Drizly But lucky for you, it still clocks in at under $15. Thankfully, Agavales is miles beyond whatever bottom-of-the-barrel tequila you drank in college, since it's made from 100% agave - meaning there’s no added junk. And mixing up a paloma or whatever other tequila-spiked drinks you enjoy shouldn't give you harrowing flashbacks to dorm room drinking. When you’re buying bottom shelf tequila, you’ve got to be especially careful, since bad tequila can be really bad. It’s got a little bit of leathery roughness to it, but overall this is an impressively crisp rum with an insane value. It certainly doesn’t have the richer complexity of the darker stuff, but the sweet molasses notes come through here in full force. You'd be hard pressed to guess that this is a budget rum. In any case, this will make for an excellent G&T or Tom Collins, but could stand up to drinking neat if that’s your thing.įor something that’s 80 proof, this stuff sure is smooth. We will say, though, that it’s a bit less complex than the good stuff - there aren't waves of layered flavor in here like with pricier gins - but that's par for the course for cheap booze. In fact, the stuff easily holds its own against more expensive, higher proof gins. There’s some strong juniper goodness packed in here. We’ll admit that it’s slightly harsh, but other than that, it's perfectly serviceable and well worth the money. This stuff is almost as good - which, in vodka’s case, just means that it’s mostly flavorless - and costs ten bucks. They’re expensive because of successful marketing, despite being hardly distinguishable from the competition. Want to know a secret? Top shelf vodkas like Grey Goose and Ciroc aren’t expensive because they’re good. There’s plenty of honey and orange flavor, and a tolerable enough amount of rough, boozy heat that you could drink this one straight. While it’s definitely not as good as other Buffalo Trace brands, it costs all of eight bucks and doesn’t have the bland notes and aggresively harsh alcohol burn of some other bottom shelf contenders. There are so many terrific and widely available whiskeys out there, but most will run you $30 or more.īenchmark, on the other hand, is dirt cheap and made by Buffalo Trace distillery alongside big shot bourbons like Pappy Van Winkle. Keep an eye out for any of these safe bets that taste a lot better than their price tag would lead you to believe. If you’re going to opt for the cheap stuff, though, know what to look for so you don’t get stuck with a bottle of harsh, barely drinkable booze. We love a good single malt or nine-ingredient cocktail as much as the next guys, but emptying your wallet at the liquor store or mixology spot isn’t always in the budget.
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