# The best $30 bottle of whiskey **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [November 28, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058 "2007-11-28T18:14:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/41 "2007-11-29T04:52:43Z")
Liquor taxes are rather high here, so whiskey tends to be one product that is more expensive than in the West. US$30 is about 1020 baht. For that you could maybe get Johnnie Walker Black, Johnnie Walker Swing (that one’s maybe just a bit more), Chivas Regal or J&B. Single malts start at about $45. Oh, and as for Irish, you can get a bottle of Jameson’s for maybe 600 or 700 baht. That’s about $19 or so. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/42 "2007-11-29T04:59:34Z")
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, 13yo. That is, if you can find it. I loves me some rye, even if it is impossible to find. I’ll be in Indianapolis/Cincinnati for Xmas. You can bet I’ll hit Party Source to stock back up ---
**Author:** ![The\_Them](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/43 "2007-11-29T06:10:18Z")
I’ve never much cared for whiskey, but my Dad… He always seems to have **Maker’s Mark** or **George Dickel.** I think they’re \<$30. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/44 "2007-11-29T06:17:34Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] The $25 Spayburn is turning out to be quite good, despite the face that the cork snapped on me. [/QUOTE] Two questions: 1. Which face did the cork snap on? 2. Just how much of that Spayburn have you had tonight? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/45 "2007-11-29T06:58:29Z")
My first three choices, before opening the thread, were Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, and Woodford Reserve. I see that’s already been covered. I thought I was going to be clever and be the first person to suggest the Van Winkle rye. Beaten to the punch. If you’re ever really on a budget, I think Old Overholt rye (at $12.99 a fifth around here) is the best whisky bargain out there. It won’t blow your socks off, but it’s a miracle there’s a drinkable whisky for under $15. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/46 "2007-11-29T07:18:19Z")
I have a real affection for Maker’s Mark. It’s primo stuff, and they have a great tour with a hot redhead guide. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/47 "2007-11-29T09:50:48Z")
[QUOTE=The Them] I’ve never much cared for whiskey, but my Dad… He always seems to have **Maker’s Mark** or **George Dickel.** I think they’re \<$30. [/QUOTE] I would have to second these recommendations but in reverse order. For Irish whisky, Jameson’s. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/48 "2007-11-29T13:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=Pork Rind] Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye, 13yo. [/QUOTE] If you can find a bottle of that anywhere for 30 bucks, let me know. I’ll hire a U-Haul, drive all the way to Seattle, if need be, and bring cases of it back here! ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/49 "2007-11-29T14:35:46Z")
This is the time for the OP to experiment with Scotch. As an American who likes American whiskeys, I’d recommend he try one of the mild “yellow” scotch whiskies intended for the US market during prohibition. I know I like them. J&B is a favourite. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/50 "2007-11-29T14:41:09Z")
Hmm… edit note ended up as the title. More scotch! ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/51 "2007-11-29T14:48:12Z")
It’s a coin toss - either 2 $15 bottles or 3 $10 bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/52 "2007-11-29T14:58:29Z")
I brought home a bottle of Canadian Club Sherry Cask from the office in 1999, after their PR people sent it over during the rollout. I recall it being very pleasantly smooth, with a slight wine-y tang from the sherry casks. Used to be \<$30, but may now be slightly \> . ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/53 "2007-11-29T17:38:40Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] If you can find a bottle of that anywhere for 30 bucks, let me know. I’ll hire a U-Haul, drive all the way to Seattle, if need be, and bring cases of it back here! [/QUOTE] Hmmm…for some reason, I also thought that there was a $30-range rye and I thought it was Van Winkle, but looking through the liquor store catalog, it seems all the ryes fall into the sub-$20 (Old Overholt, Jim Beam Rye, Wild Turkey Rye) or $50+. ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/54 "2007-11-29T18:52:38Z")
Thanks all. I’m going to make a slip of paper for my wallet with your suggestions on it (I have a lousy memory) and give myself an occaisional treat from the list. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/55 "2007-11-29T19:14:12Z")
[QUOTE=gotpasswords] As for “snobby” - there’s a big bottle of JD at home, right next to the big bottle of MM. [/QUOTE] Good man, you receive my seal of approval, and yes, there is a world of yummy Whiskey out there. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/56 "2007-11-29T21:13:05Z")
It’s a coin toss - either 2 $15 bottles or 3 $10 bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/57 "2007-11-29T23:27:53Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] It’s a coin toss - either 2 $15 bottles or 3 $10 bottles. [/QUOTE] I’m seeing double. One of us should stop drinking. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/58 "2007-11-30T01:55:15Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Knob Creek Kentucky straight bourbon is hard to beat at any price. In most markets, it’s under $30. It’s a rich, full flavor, and it won’t try to skin your tongue. The drinker who thinks whisky ought to be brutal won’t like Knob Creek. [/QUOTE] Add my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/59 "2007-11-30T02:24:35Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] I can go with Knob Creek, or Maker’s Mark both are great whiskeys. I will toss one more name into the hat however. Try a bottle of [Jim Beam Black](http://www.jimbeam.com/beam/v5/products/black_label.aspx). Compared to the KC or MM it’s a bargain also. [/QUOTE] I really, really like Woodford Reserve. The flavor is good, but the smell, my god, I can sit with a glass of it under my nose for hours. It’s like distilled essence of the world’s best caramel sundae. No other bourbon I’ve tried, and I’ve tried one or two more expensive ones on the recommendations of trusted bartenders, have come close; none of the others have had that intensely buttery caramel aroma. The New York Times just did a feature on bourbon, though, and they said Jim Beam Black Label was the best buy in the ones they sampled. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![ForumBot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ee59a6/32.png) [@ForumBot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ForumBot)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2007, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058/60 "2007-11-30T03:45:17Z")
[QUOTE=mswas] If your bag of weed costs less than $ 30 for a gram it’s not worth smoking. [/QUOTE] Is your weed grown organically in space or something? Who pays this much? Are you sure you don’t mean $30 for an eighth? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-30-bottle-of-whiskey/428058.md?page=2)