Knob Creek. I keep trying other high-end bourbons, and I keep coming back to Knob Creek.
Just out of curiosity - is liquor really sufficiently cheaper in AZ than TX to make this worthwhile? Or is it the backwater liquor laws? (I’ve learned to carry my own when driving through Utah.)
I don’t know if it’s a state thing or a local thing. It might just be that College Station, having around 40-50,000 college students, is very much a seller’s market for alcohol. The bottle of Maker’s Mark I can get for $18 is on the Army base, where AAFES does price-matching against off-base businesses to keep prices low for the soldiers (from what I understand, they lose money hand-over fist selling gas that way). At the grocery store in town, I think it’s about $22 for the same bottle, and about $26 for a bottle of Knob Creek there (they don’t sell Knob Creek on the Army base).
Maker’s is far more popular locally. Knob Creek is a Jim Beam brand and therefore perceived to be corporate-owned while Maker’s was run by the 4th generation of the Samuels family (however, I think they sold out recently).
Personally, I lean toward Franklin/Woodford County Bourbons. Ancient Age/Blanton’s/Woodford Reserve for me, thank you very much.
IIRC, Maker’s Mark is owned by Jim Bean as well.
OK I see the point. $18 is very good for MM.
The spritzer thingy broke off - not the glass. The luggage had been pretty manhandled.
As much as I like both of the referenced bourbons, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention 2 that are cheaper, but just as good if not better: Old Granddad Bonded and Old Weller Antique. The bonded is 100 proof, while the Antique weighs in at 107. Both are under $20 and superb.
I’m normally a single malt scotch fan myself, but I’d go with Maker’s Mark FWIW…its my personal preference.
I’m with some of the others though about carrying it on in a glass container. Myself, I’d just eat the cost at the other end…it can’t be THAT much more expensive in Texas as opposed to whereever you are from, and the hassle of getting the stuff travel ready (and I’m enough of a snob to not want to put in in a plastic container myself :)), as well as the ramifications if something goes wrong and the container breaks isn’t, IMHO, worth the trouble or the added expense.
Good luck with all your plans btw. 
-XT
Heh, was talking to my female friend, and she suggested that I just get a case of Shiner Bock and a bottle of Manachewitz when I get to Texas.
And they say college students don’t know how to budget their money. 
Well, I’m with her on the Shiner at least.