The Top 6 Best Bargain Bourbons You Can Buy Under $30

In a landscape where market prices for liquors are skyrocketing, bourbon has a healthy hold on a piece of the market pie: bargain bourbon buys. If you go in search of a $20 bottle of malt scotch, good luck to you finding that gem! But you can totally find a bottle of $20 bourbon.

How do bourbon makers cut costs to make bargain bourbons?

How do whiskey makers cut down on costs to create a fabulous bargain bourbon buy? The first way is with the ingredients. Corn comprises about 51-80 percent of the ingredients in the bourbon, along with rye, wheat, and barley. Those non-corn grains are pretty expensive—more expensive than corn. Distilleries can sometimes pull some strings to purchase the non-corn grains at a better price. Or, they may alter the recipe to add more corn and fewer “other” grains. Maker’s Mark and W.L. Weller typically use a higher amount of wheat. Old Forester and Four Roses use a higher percentage of rye. And Jim Beam, Buffalo Trace, and Elijah Craig typically use more corn. Guess which ones tend to be cheaper?

Of course, there are other factors that affect the price of grains on a year-to-year basis. Climate change, supply chain bottlenecks, labor problems, and other issues can arise. These problems all translate to fluctuating costs yearly. Imagine trying to keep your final bottle price steady and recipe stable when your grain costs triple!

The second way that distilleries can adjust pricing is through the oak barrels used for aging. In fact, barrels likely impact the price of a bottle of bourbon more than anything else. Oak barrels are the most common wood barrels. But there’s a difference between barrels grown and made in the USA versus Europe, and whether they have been used for another type of liquor first. (E.g., sherry is a popular choice.) Also, honeyed barrels make some of the best bourbons on the market. But honeyed barrels cost significantly more money than standard American oak barrels. Once again, supply issues such as wood shortages can impact the price of barrels. Drought, supply chain issues, worker disruptions, or other problems mean higher costs for the distillery.

The third way that some distilleries cut costs is by lowering the proof per bottle, which basically means that they’ve added water to the recipe.

What is the market share of bargain bourbons?

In general, according to 2021 data, bourbons account for about 13 percent of all liquors and 37 percent of the whiskey subcategory. The average bottle of bourbon sold on Drizly in 2021 was $37, which was up slightly from the year prior. The special “bargain bourbon” bracket of $20-30 accounted for 18 percent of the market. More expensive bourbons priced at $50-60 account for about 13 percent of the market. Interestingly, the most high-end bourbons (priced at more than $100) increased in the past year from six to nine percent!

Are you ready for our best bargain bourbon picks? We have everything you need below!

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY
• Aged (some say for 9 years) in first-use American white oak barrels
• 90 Proof (45% ABV)
• Cost: $25 USD

Tasting notes: This bourbon is all about spice and char. Burned cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla bean give way to caramel and butterscotch tones. There’s a wonderful addition of peppery rye to the tasting experience. We love the fact that Buffalo Trace doesn’t have the heavy ethanol nose like some of its cousins do. It's very pleasant finish is gentle and warm. For the price, this is well worth a buy and gets our top pick as the “best bargain bourbon” to try. Try this in a beautiful whiskey glass.

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by Elijah Craig Distillery in Bardstown, KY
• Aged 8-12 years in white American oak barrels (Level 3 charred)
• 94 Proof (47% ABV)
• Cost: $32 USD

Tasting notes: Sometimes considered “too sweet,” this bourbon has delicious banana and apple layers. There are sugary notes and a peppery vanilla spiciness that we love. It’s an easy sipper in a custom whiskey glass.

1792 Small Batch Bourbon

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, KY
• Aged at least 2 years (no age given) in new American oak barrels
• 93.7 Proof (47% ABV)
• Cost: $30 USD

Tasting notes: This bourbon uses more rye in its recipe. Although the distillery doesn’t release the recipe, many experts guess that there’s as much as 15-25 percent rye in this bottle. The rye notes come forward from the very beginning, along with a heavy dose of alcohol. Stick with it…the finish on this bottle is better than the first sniff. This bourbon has subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, coffee, and chocolate, but the alcohol will follow at every turn. Not as sweet as its Elijah Craig cousin, but delicious in a crisp, clean whiskey glass.

Old Forester Signature 100 Proof

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by Old Forester in KY
• Aged at least 2 years (no age given, probably 4 years) in charred new American oak barrels
• 100 Proof (50% ABV)
• Cost: $30 USD

Tasting notes: This bourbon features bananas prominently throughout the tasting experience. You’ll capture hints of chocolate, sugar, and coconut…almost rum-like. There’s an astringent quality throughout, with a surprisingly short finish. Don’t forget the coasters!

Broken Barrel California Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by…it’s a secret! But possibly O.Z. Tyler Distillery in Owensboro, KY
• Aged more than one year in California Central Coast Cabernet Cask (oak) barrels and French oak staves.
• 88 Proof (44% ABV)
• Cost: $30 USD

Tasting notes: They actually announce their mash recipe! It has 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and 9 percent malted barley. For this bourbon, the barrels really make an impact, and a discerning taster can get the wine hints in this spirit. It’s easy to drink, with hints of cornbread, vanilla, nutmeg, and red wine notes. More than one reviewer calls on some old-school, childhood cereal boxes when describing this bourbon (Froot Loops, anyone?). There’s a significant floral presence in this bourbon, with hints of rose, iris, lilac, and apple blossoms. Serve over ice, and don’t forget the coasters!

Michter’s Small Batch US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

• Straight bourbon whiskey
• Made by Michter’s Distillery in Louisville, KY
• Aged in new American white oak barrels
• 91.4 Proof (45.7% ABV)
• Cost: $30 USD

Tasting notes: Rich caramel with vanilla, stone fruit, and a smokiness that bourbon drinkers love. It starts with some generic notes and heavy astringency, but sticking with this is worth the effort. It has hints of cherry, radish, aniseed, marshmallow, and mustard. It finishes up smoothly. This is a great spirit to enjoy on the rocks to allow the sweetness to come through. As one reviewer wrote: “a heart of gold beneath a hostile exterior.” Sounds perfect for a serviceman or servicewoman!

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