Budget Buys

NB A Steal of a Deal Discussion has much info along these lines. Prices across locales are probably pretty difficult for members to correlate to your reference prices.

With what we have here in Maryland, these would be my early priority budget buys:

Scottish Malts: Old Pulteney 12, Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Ardbeg 10 (go ahead and spend $ 10 more for these), Balvenie 14 yo Caribbean Cask, Signature, or, if you are very lucky to find it, Founders Reserve 10, Glenfiddich 15 DE, Glenfiddich 15, Macallan 12, Macallan 10 Fine Oak..

Scottish Blends: Grant's Family Reserve, Johnnie Walker Black, J&B Rare

American: Wild Turkey 101 Rye, Old Weller Antique 107, George Dickel # 12, Old Grand-Dad 114. There are a bunch more, but those are my top picks.

Irish: Jameson's 12 yo Special Reserve

Yes I figured prices would vary greatly from region to region. So a $10 swing should cover. Things here in North Texas are on the cheap compared to other urban centers.

@Alanxv Here I am with a few before-dinner recommendations you've not read already:

anCnoc 12 year old Deanston Virgin Oak Tullibardine Aged Oak

For me, the top American whiskies under $30 are Eagle Rare and Rittenhouse Rye.

The scotch discussion starts and ends with Highland Park 12, in my opinion! Laphroaig 10 is also worthwhile in the low-$40 price range. Victor mentioned some good whiskies, but nearly all of them are at least $50 in my neck of the woods.

Scotch: Glenmorangie 10y Original, Laphroaig 10y, Ardbeg 10y Old Pulteney 12, Balvenie Doublewood 12y.

Scottish Blends: Black Bottle, Johnnie Walker Black.

Bourbon: Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare 10, Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel, Four Roses Single Barrel.

Irish: Kilbeggan

Its gets alot better with another $10 or $15. But the quality does'nt always follow the price.

Read the reviews here, do your homework. Find a reviewer that likes what you like, chances are he or she will have something you have never tried.

I'd recommend any or all of the following,

Speysiders: Balvenie 12 year old DoubleWood Benromach 10 year old Glenfarclas 10 year old

Highlanders: Dalmore 12 year old Dalwhinnie 15 year old Glenmorangie 10 year old The Original

Salty Islanders: HIghland Park 12 year old Old Pulteney 12 year old Tobermory 10 year old (much improved)

Peaty Islay Malts: Ardbeg 10 year old Kilchoman Machir Bay Laphroaig 10 year old Special mention (if you see these on a retailer's shelves): Ellenstown 10 year old (rumored to be a Cask Strength release of Ardbeg 10) Smokehead (NAS, rumored to be from Ardbeg or Caol Ila or Lagavulin. It's obviously Caol Ila to me, but it make vary from batch to batch for all I know).

Scotch Blended Malts: Johnnie Walker 15 year old Green Label Spencerfield Spirits Sheep Dip

Scotch Blends: Isle of Skye 8 year old Isle of Skye 12 year old Johnnie Walker 12 year old Black Label Spencerfield Spirits Pig's Nose

Irish Blended Whiskey: Jameson 12 year old

Japanese Blended Whisky: Suntory Hibiki 12 year old

American Bourbon Whiskey: Buffalo Trace Jim Beam 8 year old Double Black (Both a bargain priced at under $20US)

American Single Malt: Clear Creek Distillery, McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

I hate the Ardbeg 10 for me is $100. Arg!

The = that...

" But the quality does'nt always follow the price."

That's really the trick isn't it. Finding that special gem where the divergence between price and quality is the widest. So far I've found that Buffalo Trace Bourbon and the Rittenhouse Rye have the widest gap between price and quality. When Eagle Rare 10 yo single barrel is on sale for about 22 bucks that rings the bell and is an instant buy. I just got home with a bottle of the Highland Park 12, I paid 45 and change. If it lives up to the reviews then it should be a shoe in for the all time budget buy list.

Good choice the HP12 is a good priced whisky, take your time enjoy all the nuance of this great whisky. Let us know how you like it. :)

i absolutely agree regarding the rittenhouse 100 being excellent! it's only about $22 in cali and it tastes excellent. I'm surprised it's only that price point. knob creek 100 is great...it's got heat to it. in terms of maker's 46, i really like that and it runs about $28. Maker's 46 is 94 proof and it's finished off in a french oak cask, which i think brings out a little bit of raspberry note. it's rich, sweet and buttery with a kick. however, some people love it and some hate it. as far as scotch, HP 12 is great.., balvenie double wood 12 year or aberlour are also along that price point.

I was impressed by the Evan Williams - Single Barrel 2002; maybe not quit the oopmh of Knob Creek but a fair bit cheaper.

For Scotches, Laphroig 10 and QC are always excellent value; if you want a more unusual heavily peated Islay, Port Charlotte - An Turas Mor is good and only a little pricier. The Bruichladdie Laddie 10 is a pleasant zesty whisky that shows the other aspects of Islay well. For a rich malty dram, Glenfiddich 15 (Solera) is good value (especially in UK supermarkets where it always seems to be on special offer).