All suggestions based off MSRP. Last updated 04/03/2020

Bourbon	Buy/Don't Buy/Try	Comments
1792 Single Barrel Select	Buy	A step above regular 1792, and a great drink, especially at the price. Smooth.
Alley 6 Rye Whiskey	Buy	Surprisingly good for a young Rye whiskey. Even Philip didn't mind it.
Ancient Ancient Age	Don’t Buy	We didn’t particularly enjoy this cinnamon bomb. But it’s cheap, so if you want to give it a shot, go ahead.
Angel's Envy Bourbon Whiskey	Try	Interesting dessert whiskey as it's very sweet since finished in port wine casks.
Barrell Bourbon - Batch 17	Buy	It’s a moderately expensive barrel proof, but for this batch at least it’s a really solid pour, that we enjoyed. I’d like to see more distribution from this brand.
Barterhouse - Orphan Barrel Series	Try	Vastly different tastes between different bottles of this, and my bottle was not good. Not nearly good enough for the price.
Bernheim Wheat - 2017	Try	An odd wheater that just didn't do it for us.
Blade and Bow	Buy	An interestingly marketed solera aged bourbon whiskey, on the upper edge of mid-shelf. It’s good, but not great yet.
Blade Rummer - Resevoir Distillery	Don't Buy	Way too expensive for a young, not very good whiskey.
Blanton's - 2017	Buy	Delicious, original single barrel
Blanton’s - 2018	Buy	Still remains a fantastic bourbon. Just don’t pay $150 for it. Stupid secondary market.
Blanton’s - Straight from the Barrel	Buy	If you can get this for anywhere around retail, go for it. It’s a fantastic pour, and can maybe hold up to Buffalo’s Antique lineup.
Big Deal Rye Whiskey	Try	An interesting offering from West Virginia, and passable, so one to try if you’re a Rye fan looking for something new.
Blood Oath - Pact 5	Try	This whiskey has a lot going on with the various bourbons in the blend, and given the price point, it should be shared with experienced bourbon drinkers. Not bad, not fantastic.
Bondi Bourbon - 2018	Don’t Buy	It’s an odd corn whiskey that calls itself a bourbon. I’d give it another shot in a couple years.
Bone Snapper Rye Whiskey	Buy	Jarrod says it's a good Rye, and Philip can understand why.
Booker's - 2016-06	Buy	While Booker's has been going up in price, it's still a good pour and and easy to find barrel proof. The various years do have different tastes though.
Bower Hill Barrel Reserve - 2018	Don’t buy	For the price there are much better offerings, and it’s weirdly hot and not very pleasant.
Breckenridge High Proof	Try	We’ve enjoyed other offerings from Breckenridge more, but we’re hoping our bottle needed more time to breathe. Give em a shot and see what you think.
Buffalo Trace	Buy	Inexpensive offering from Buffalo Trace, and a great mixing bourbon for cocktails.
Bulleit	Buy	Decent standby, good cocktail mixer
Bulleit - Barrel Strength	Try	Decent, but not for everyone. Very hot barrel proof.
Bulleit - 10yr	Try	Good, but for the price, it may not be worth it for everyone versus regular Bulleit.
Burning Chair	Don’t Buy	This is a really hot, young whiskey, that just didn’t do it for us. But if you like really hot whiskey, it might be for you.
Cleveland Whiskey	Don’t Buy	While trying innovative ideas and technology is generally a good thing, at least produce decent tasting whiskey in the process.
Clyde May's Alabama Style Special Reserve	Don't Buy	110 Proof Hot apple garbage
Clyde May's Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Try	Not a bad moderately priced bourbon, but much better available for the price.
Collabor&tion Brandy Finished Bourbon (Bardstown Bourbon Co)	Try	A 10yr bourbon aged another 1.5 years in Brandy barrels, so the brandy taste really comes through. Good, but due to the price tag, try it first.
Collabor&tion Muscat Mistelle Finished Bourbon (Bardstown Bourbon Co)	Try	A 10yr bourbon aged another 1.5 years in Muscat barrels, so the winey taste is readily apparent, and you need to like that. Interesting, but due to the price tag, try it first.
Colonel EH Taylor - Barrel Proof	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail. Smoothest Barrel proof ever.
Colonel EH Taylor - Barrel Proof - 2018	Buy	Delicious and dangerous barrel proof. Goes down too easy.
Colonel EH Taylor - Four Grain	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail
Colonel EH Taylor - Rye	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail
Colonel EH Taylor - Seasoned Wood	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail
Colonel EH Taylor - Single Barrel	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail
Colonel EH Taylor - Small Batch	Buy	You can't go wrong with EH Taylor at retail
Copper Fox Rye	Buy	Jarrod says it's a good Rye. We know how Philip feels about Ryes.
Dad’s Hat Rye Whiskey	Buy	If you like Ryes, you’ll probably like this mid-range offering. Fairly polished for the price.
Eagle Rare	Buy	A little sweet, but smooth and great for price
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2016	Buy	EC's barrel proofs have set the standard for affordable, delicious barrel proofs
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2017 (A)	Buy	EC's barrel proofs have set the standard for affordable, delicious barrel proofs
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2017 (B)	Buy	This is the only one that was actually Bourbon of the year. But it is good.
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2018 (A)	Buy	EC's barrel proofs have set the standard for affordable, delicious barrel proofs
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2018 (B)	Buy	EC's barrel proofs have set the standard for affordable, delicious barrel proofs
Elijah Craig - Barrel Proof - 2018 (C)	Buy	Yeah, what he said right above. You can just grab one or two every time it’s released.
Elijah Craig - Small Batch	Buy	Good inexpensive bourbon for parties or decanter
Elmer T Lee	Buy	Sweet and delicious if you can find it
Elmer T Lee - 100yr Tribute	Buy	If you can find it at retail, buy all day. 10 more proof added to regular Elmer makes this fantastic.
Evan Williams - Black	Try	Cheap bottom shelf bourbon
Evan Williams - Single Barrel	Buy	Inexpensive, but good single barrel
Evan Williams Single Barrel - 2018	Buy	A great inexpensive single barrel option. No need to mix this Evan Williams.
Four Roses - Single Barrel - 2017	Buy	Great example of a single barrel, delicious oak notes
Four Roses - Single Barrel - 2019	Buy	Great example of a single barrel, affordable bourbon, that you can still buy on the shelves.
Four Roses - Single Barrel Barrel Proof - 2018 OBSF 8yrs	Buy	Pricing can vary on this one, but incredibly smooth barrel proof. Dangerous. Get me another.
Four Roses - Small Batch	Buy	Inexpensive good bourbon
Four Roses - Small Batch Select	Buy	It’s a higher proof offering, that is definitely good, but I don’t know if I’d always pick it over the Single barrel since it is more expensive. But definitely pick at least one up.
Four Roses - Yellow Label	Buy	Cheap good bourbon
George Dickel - 9yr Single Barrel	Try	Dickels offerings are hit or miss, and while I wouldn’t turn down a glass, I don’t need to buy another bottle after finishing this one.
George Dickel - Bottled-In-Bond (2019)	Buy	For a 13yr old, 100 proof Tennessee Whiskey, that only costs in the mid-$30’s, this is a surprisingly solid pour. Give it a shot. Just remember, Tennessee whiskey, not bourbon.
George Dickel No. 12	Try	The No. 12 definitely doesn’t live up to the BiB Dickel, and while not offensive, it’s just not that pleasant either.
George T. Stagg - 2018	Buy	It’s fantastic, and a little sweet, with a spicy finish. Buy it at retail though, because we don’t want to contribute to the secondary market.
Heaven Hill Old Style	Buy	For a sub-$10 bottle, I’m not sure you’re going to find anything better for the price.
Heaven’s Door - Straight Bourbon	Don’t Buy	Fool me once Bob Dylan, but I won’t be buying this again.
Henry McKenna 10 yr - 2017 batch (bottled 2007)	Buy	Surprisingly affordable and good inexpensive 10yr bourbon
Henry McKenna 10 yr - 2019 batch (bottled 2009)	Buy	Well, this bottle escalated quickly. Still a really good option if found at retail. Do not pay 2-3x retail though. Just walk away.
Hibiki - Suntory	Try	Fairly mellow, and a good example of a Japanese whiskey. Try it if you haven't had japanese whiskey, if you like japanese whiskey, buy
High West - American Prairie Bourbon	Try	Expensive for the quality received
High West - Bourye	Buy	An Interesting take on a Bourbon and Rye mixture.
High West - MidWinter Night's Dram	Buy	Rye heavy, but delicious
Holland's Ghost - Resevoir Distillery	Don't Buy	Way too expensive for a young, not very good whiskey.
Hudson Baby Bourbon	Don't Buy	We really wanted to like this one, but it simply needs to age longer. Way too young.
I.W. Harper	Try	Inexpensive, but probably better offerings for the money. Definitely try first.
Jack Daniels	Buy	If you want a jack and Ginger, go for the original. Just remember this isn't a bourbon.
Jefferson's Reserve	Buy	The lowest level offering from Jefferson's that we can recommend buying.
Jefferson's Very Small Batch	Don't Buy	Just stay away. If sticking with Jefferson's, the reserve is the lowest you want to go from their offerings.
Jesse James Outlaw Whiskey	Don't Buy	Don't do it. Back up and slowly walk away.
Jim Beam	Buy	It's definitely bourbon, but the distillers cut is much better for not much more money.
Jim Beam Black	Buy	Upgrade to Distillers Cut if available
Jim Beam Bonded	Buy	Another strong sub-$30 hit from Mr. Beam
Jim Beam Distillers Cut	Buy	Surprisingly Good.
Jim Beam Repeal Batch	Buy	Not bad, worth the price.
John J Bowman	Buy	Sourced bourbon aged by A smith Bowman, but it's good.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Try	It’s an expensive, younger, finished whiskey. Please don’t make my mistake and buy a bottle without trying. Also, there are too many finished whiskeys.
Just Whiskey - Indiana Whiskey	Try	It's an oddly light Whiskey that doesn't have a lot going on.
Knob Creek - Single Barrel	Buy	Hot and spicy 120 proof single barrel. Add some ice or water and you're set though.
Kopper Kettle Bourbon Whiskey	Try	Belmont Farm produced an interesting whiskey, and it’s definitely worth a try. Though since it’s inexpensive, maybe just grab a bottle.
Larceny	Try	Not our cup of tea. Better options at this price
Legent	Buy	The flavor profile is different, so it may not be for everyone, but for an inexpensive offering that offers this value and taste, I’d buy another.
Liar’s Bench Rye	Try	An offering from Bear Wallow distillery that isn’t bad, but not our favorite rye by any stretch.
Longbranch (Wild Turkey)	Try	Not for everyone, but try it to see if it's worth the price to have Matthew McConaughey's bourbon
Lost Republic Bourbon	Try	Not a bad younger offering, but definitely try before buying.
Makers Mark	Buy	Decent standby. You know what you're going to get.
Makers Mark - 46	Try	Different enough from the original to try before buying for most people. But definitely give it a try.
Makers Mark - Cask Strength	Buy	If you like the original, you should like this. It’s just going to hit much harder.
Melky Miller American Whiskey - 8 yr	Buy	It’s an interesting maryland rye whiskey, that’s corn heavy. At least worth a try.
Mic Drop L19-01	Buy	It’s a lower age statement than previous versions, but for ~$60, it’s still a solid, pretty delicious, barrel proof bourbon.
Michter’s Rye Whiskey - Single Barrel	Buy	A mellow Rye whiskey, with enough going to please Rye and non-Rye fans. Ex: Philip just finished the bottle
Michter's Small Batch Whiskey - Rte 1	Buy	Inexpensive, decent bourbon for retail.
Michter’s Toasted Barrel	Buy	It’s low proof, and significantly more expensive than the regular bourbon, but it's got a lot of flavors going on. But only worth it at retail.
Middle West Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Don't Buy	Stick to the wheat whiskeys.
Middle West Straight Wheated Whiskey	Buy	Good wheat whiskey from a young distillery.
New Riff - Straight Bourbon Bottled-in-Bond (2018)	Buy	It’s a little spicy due to the high rye percentage, but balanced nicely and tasty.
Noah’s Mill	Buy	A young, heavy, delicious whiskey from Willett, that while it may be sourced, still comes out swinging.
Old Elk Blended Straight Whiskey	Try	We've heard some comments on this one since our tasting, but our bottle was not delicious, way too young and rough. But try it and see for yourself.
Old Forester - 1910	Buy	It’s not cheap, and it’s only 93 proof, but it has a lot of stand out flavors for a lower proof whiskey. I’ll take another please.
Old Forester - 1920	Buy	115 proof, and incredibly smooth with delicious vanilla and oak flavors. Why haven’t you already bought a bottle? I’ll wait.
Old Forester - Bottled in Bond 1897	Buy	Buttery and smooth, with an interesting bite.
Old Forester - Original 1870	Buy	Decent daily drinker, but the bottled in bond at the next higher price offering is slightly better.
Old Forester - Signature	Buy	A 100 proof bourbon that’s under $25 and tastes this good? Why haven’t you already picked up a bottle.
Old Grand-Dad 114	Buy	For $20 this is the highest proof bourbon you can buy and actually enjoy the experience. Solid pour.
Old Overholt Rye	Try	Decent to pickup for some manhattans. A mixer for sure.
OYO Oloroso Wheat Whiskey - Middle West	Try	Interesting wheat whiskey finished in sherry casks. Dessert whiskey
OYO Sherry Finished Bourbon - Middle West	Don't Buy	Stick to the wheat whiskeys.
Paniolo Blended Hawaiian Whiskey	Try	It was interesting and good to try as the ONLY Hawaiian whiskey
Pappy Van Winkle’s 20yr - 2018	Buy	Really, what other option is there if you see a Pappy on the shelf at retail besides “Please sir, May I have another?”
Parker’s Heritage Orange Curacao	Buy	The 2018 Parker’s Heritage runs a fine line with the addition of orange curacao, but overall we feel they did a fantastic job on it. It will cost you though.
Peerless 2yr Rye	Try	The price point, age, and quality of this whiskey don’t match well, so give it a shot before buying. But it is a cool bottle.
Pikesville Rye	Buy	A moderately priced Rye, but not too expensive, that hit's enough good notes to enjoy on it's own or in a cocktail.
Rabbit Hole Bourbon - 2018	Try	An interesting mashbill from a new distillery, that’s worth a try. Where is the pepper coming from? There’s no rye.
Rabbit Hold Heigold - 2019	Buy	It’s a new high rye offering from Rabbit Hole, but it’s surprisingly good for a 3 year bourbon. Give it a shot.
Rebel Yell Straight Bourbon	Don’t buy	Yes, it’s really cheap, but even for the price there are better options. Or spend a little more and get the higher price Rebel Yell offerings.
Rittenhouse Rye	Buy	A solid, inexpensive Rye. Yes, I will have another old fashioned, thank you.
Rock Hill Farms	Buy	If you can find it at retail, buy it. Slightly below Blanton's in our opinion, but a step above Colonel Taylor
Russel's Reserve (Wild Turkey)	Try	Mid-shelf deliciousness
Six and Twenty Five Grain	Try	5 and 6 grains are always interesting to try, but definitely try first.
Six and Twenty Oat Whiskey	Try	Not bad offerings from a younger, small distillery, but odd oat taste.
Smooth Ambler Big Level	Try	Smooth Ambler is trying, just not quite there with all their offerings, but give'em a shot.
Smooth Ambler Old Scout 107	Buy	Easy drinking and one of the better Smooth Ambler offerings so far.
Spring Mill Bourbon	Don't Buy	Nope. Just not pleasant.
Stagg Jr	Buy	A strong barrel proof offering, so maybe add a little water, but able to be found on shelves and delicious
The Colonel - West Fork Whiskey	Buy	Decent bourbon offering from a younger distillery. Definitely wheated.
Toki - Suntory	Try	Definitely not a bourbon, so recognize that going in. Start with an inexpensive Japanese whiskey to see if it's in your flavor profile
Tom’s Foolery Bourbon Whiskey	Try	It’s not bad for a younger, inexpensive bourbon, so give it a shot.
Town Branch barrel proof	Buy	Not the cheapest barrel proof, but a solid and tasty offering from a younger KY distillery
Two Bitch Eureka Gold	Buy	A surprisingly good, easy drinking, two year bourbon from a young distillery.
Very Old Barton 86	Try	It’s cheap, and you can get a lot for a little money, but even at the price there’s better things to buy.
Virgil Kaine Rip-Track Bourbon	Try	It’s a young, rye heavy bourbon out of South Carolina. If they start aging things longer they may even be on to something here, just not yet.
Wathen’s Single Barrel - 2018	Try	It’s an oddly hot 94 proof single barrel. Maybe you’ll get a different barrel, but ours was not the most pleasant.
Weller Antique 107	Buy	It’s a great $25, higher proof, wheated bourbon. $25. Not $100, or $200. That’s just dumb.
Weller CYPB (2018)	Buy	Delicious special offering from the Weller line, but damn it’s not a $400+ bourbon.
Weller Special Reserve	Buy	A good wheated bourbon, but a good $20-25 bourbon. Not a $50 (or more) bourbon at all.
Whistle Pig Rye - 10yr	Buy	Jarrod and Philip liked this one, so it's definitely a buy on this Rye. (See what I did there)
Widow Jane - 10 yr bourbon	Try	Sourced bourbon from NY, and they claim the Limestone water makes it special. Expensive, so try it yourself first before buying
Wigle Wheat Whiskey	Try	Pennsylvania wheat whiskey, that’s a little too sweet and onenote for us, but since it’s inexpensive, give’em a try if you want.
Wild Turkey - 101	Buy	Decanter or party bourbon
Wild Turkey - Kentucky Spirit	Buy	Step up from 101, as it's the single barrel version.
Wild Turkey - Rare Breed	Buy	Inexpensive barrel proof to dip your feet into the world of higher proof bourbon
Willet Pot Still	Buy	Good price point, interesting flavor, annoying to pour.
Willet Rye	Buy	For a younger Rye this is a surprisingly good offering from Willet, which is probably why it shouldn't be as much of a surprise.
Writers’ Tears Irish Whiskey	Try	Our first foray into Irish Whiskey went well, and this one is definitely an easy drinking introduction to the category.
Woodford Double Oaked	Try	Woodford has fairly reliable options, but this is gimmicky and didn't seem to add much to the flavor
Yellowstone Limited Edition 101 - 2018	Try	It’s harder to find and significantly more expensive the the Yellowstone select, give it a try first. Not bad, just maybe not worth it.
Yellowstone Select 93 (Limestone Branch Distillery)	Buy	Good offering from a younger Kentucky distillery. Decent price and good taste, what more do you want for $40?
Young and Yonder - Stave Robber Ryed Bourbon	Try	Maybe better in a few years, just too young, but give it a shot if a ryed bourbon sounds good at a bar.

This website is only for individuals 21 and older.