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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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 > .
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+.
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.
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.