Best Inexpensive Whiskey + Cheap Cocktails

Out to find the best inexpensive whiskey? You’re in luck. We’ve got several for you to think about as you make your decisions.  You’ll find a ton of extra picks on our blog, to boot. Keep reading for more suggestions about where to discover more. The possibilities are overwhelming--in the best of ways!

Let’s narrow it down, shall we? Sometimes, you can get anxious going to the liquor store. We’ll give you some names to spy on in those jam-packed aisles. Keep calm.
Stay cool. Relax. And speaking of relaxing, we’ll also toss some fun cocktail ideas your way.

Be sure to follow our friends @southernbellebourbon and @northern_bourbon on Instagram. We appreciate their input today. Their IG handles suggest bourbon all the time, but they truly get down with all types of whiskey. We love it.

Best Inexpensive Whiskey [Above $50]

Belle Meade Bourbon | $64.99

A bottle of Belle Meade Bourbon | $64.99

Our favorite belle: @southernbellebourbon, recommends the Belle. She says it’s “nearly always available. And the perfect balance of oak and sweetness!” This is quality, y’all. And it’s a crazy good deal. If you can get your palate in touch with this, you won’t regret it. Add it to your growing collection ASAP.

Inexpensive Cocktail: Try the Tennessee Stud. It’s spicy, with bitters. You’ll high-five us in spirit for sure.

There’s more where this came from in our article Best Bourbon for the Money!

Best Inexpensive Whiskey [Around $30 - $50]

You’ll find rye, bourbon, Scotch, Canadian, and Japanese options below. Never be afraid to try something new. Just because you’ve always enjoyed bourbon doesn’t mean you can’t hang out with another whiskey. Give yourself permission to explore. Be open-minded!

Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey | $32.99

A bottle of Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey | $32.99

This
pick stays at our bar. We never run out. It’s against Prestige rules. It’s
great neat or on ice. And when we want a Manhattan, we turn to this bottle. At
100 proof, it’s bold. It has a presence. It speaks a beautiful whiskey
language.

Inexpensive Cocktail: Get the Classic Manhattan recipe from Knob Creek right here. Three ingredients - and you’re ready to enjoy it.

For more rye whiskey picks, check out Rye Whiskey Reviews on our blog. You’ll find Knob Creek--and seventeen other bottles! —there. Something for everyone.

Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond | $32.99

A bottle of Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond | $32.99

We
love hearing from @northern_bourbon about this 100-proofer. He says Henry McKenna 10
is “probably the best bang for the buck --if you can find it. It recently
received whiskey of the year, and it’s been flying off the shelves everywhere.
For bourbon enthusiasts like myself, we’ve known about this little secret
forever. I guess it’s no longer a secret…”

Inexpensive Cocktail: All you need are two
ingredients for this Heaven Hill’s Bourbon and Branch Recipe: your McKenna and some mineral water. That’s
absolutely all. It’s a delight!

For more inexpensive bourbon, check out our article Best Value Bourbon for eleven bottles you’ll want to get to know.

Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky | $38.99

A bottle of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky | $38.99

We can’t leave out grandfather Scotch. He’s been around, and he stays around for a reason. At 86 proof, this Islay is everything. Heavy peat and plenty of heat. (You know... if you’re into that.) Can you handle it? This one is a staple in Islays. If you’re in the market for something wildly complex, give it a go. If you’re a fan of Scotch, you maybe own this one already.

Inexpensive Cocktail: There are several Laphroaig cocktails right here, but we’re digging the Scottish Cringe from Travel+Leisure. With a couple of fresh
ingredients and simple syrup, you’ll be sipping in style. Especially if you
have Prestige whiskey glasses. Just sayin’.

Scoot over and read Best Affordable Scotch for six more bottles to seek.

Best Inexpensive Whiskey [Under $30]

Forty Creek Barrel Select | $20.99

A bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select | $20.99

Excellent
value. That’s all we gotta say. It’s spice and everything nice. It’s somehow
light and bright, too. Bourbon peeps, we’re thinking you should branch out with
this one. Canadian whisky lovers, you already know the magic packed into this
unassuming bottle. At 80 proof, it’s great for crowds.

Inexpensive Cocktail: You’ve got to try The Old Pal from Forty Creek. It’s simple and tasty. You will
keep coming back to this one over and over again.

(Canadian whisky reviews coming soon to our blog. Subscribe now so you don’t miss anything!)

Suntory Whisky Toki | $29.99

A bottle of Suntory Whisky Toki | $29.99

Can you say smooth and citrus? We recommend sipping this 86-proofer neat. It’s bourbon on the nose, but as you sip, you’ll meet with Scotch. It’s the best of
both worlds. That’s how we’d describe it, anyway. There’s a signature sweetness here that we think you’ll love. And this price! This price is golden. Thank you, Suntory. What a gift to the world.

Inexpensive Cocktail: Create an easy highball. Over ice, pour a couple of ounces of your whisky. Then add sparkling water and a twist of lemon. No regrets.

For more about Japanese whisky, have a look at Japanese Whisky Reviews. You’ll see this lovely bottle, plus three other stunners.

No Sacrifice in Flavor

Just
because we’re talking best inexpensive whiskey here, that doesn’t mean we’re sacrificing flavor. These six bring a lot to the game. What is the best inexpensive whiskey in your opinion? Share it with us in the comments below. We’d love to hear what you have to say.

All this whiskey talk is making us thirsty. And it’s also reminding us that you need to set your eyes on a fantastic prize. Do not do anything else today until you have a peek at our handcrafted decanters. They’re works of art. These unique,
conversation-starting pieces make excellent gifts. Any of this whiskey would be happy to find itself at home in our decanters.

What’s more, we plant a tree in the world for every decanter we sell. How awesome is that? We think it’s awesome. We hope you do, too.

Hope you’ve learned a thing or two today. And we hope you’ll keep coming back to discover more. We enjoy welcoming newbies into the whiskey family. And you veterans, we appreciate you and your passion for the best liquor. (We’re a biased Kentucky gang ourselves.)

Cheers!