What you tried and liked, Lagavulin 16, is a single malt scotch. Everyone else is suggesting bourbons (which is what the buffalo trace was that you tried and did not like). Just throwing that out there in case there was any confusion. Not sure how much experience you have with "whiskey" but there are different types
Best Whiskey under $40
- Thread starter TommyZ
- Start date
As you can tell I'm quit the novice when it comes to libations. Just about to turn 22 next month and have really been a beer drinker since I started drinking a couple years ago. I'll have to look more into scotchs it seems. I really liked the "smokiness" of the lagavulin, something which I've never experienced in any other drink.
Thanks for all the helpful tips all, keep them coming!
-Tom
Smokey/Peaty scotches.... no idea of the pricing of these tho ...
Bowmore 12 - not super heavy on the peat.
Ardberg - I hated this one. But any people like it. However, by the time I tried it, I was drifting away from the heavy peat scotches.
Laphroaig 10 - loved it when I had it.
Lagavulin - like you, it was my first one and it got me to fall in love with scotch.
I don't like the heavily peated scotches anymore. I think you can generally look for scotches from the Isle of Islay to get the peat flavor so maybe browse your local liquor store and see what they have.
Bowmore 12 - not super heavy on the peat.
Ardberg - I hated this one. But any people like it. However, by the time I tried it, I was drifting away from the heavy peat scotches.
Laphroaig 10 - loved it when I had it.
Lagavulin - like you, it was my first one and it got me to fall in love with scotch.
I don't like the heavily peated scotches anymore. I think you can generally look for scotches from the Isle of Islay to get the peat flavor so maybe browse your local liquor store and see what they have.
jonnylieberman
Ask Me About Outrage
I think you can get MacAllan 10 at Trader Joes for about $40. Good value.
The BEST bourbon for under $40 is Elijah Craig 12 Year. Hands down, no contest, no second place, whatever else you're thinking is wrong.
Eagle Rare is also great -- fun fact -- Eagle Rare is from the Buffalo Trace distillery. It's their wheated mash, the exact same mash as Pappy van Winkle. Which is also made there. Hint, hint.
I like Buffalo Trace, which has the same mash bill as Blantons. So, grab some Blantons!
The BEST bourbon for under $40 is Elijah Craig 12 Year. Hands down, no contest, no second place, whatever else you're thinking is wrong.
Eagle Rare is also great -- fun fact -- Eagle Rare is from the Buffalo Trace distillery. It's their wheated mash, the exact same mash as Pappy van Winkle. Which is also made there. Hint, hint.
I like Buffalo Trace, which has the same mash bill as Blantons. So, grab some Blantons!
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
This.
I love scotch, but I generally dislike bourbon, especially cheap bourbon. It has a syrupy-sweetness to it I don't care for; I find it very similar to the effect Sumatra leaf has on a cigar, which I also don't like. (There are a few exceptions, Four Roses Single Barrel being one of them. I don't think it's under $40 though.)
As for good scotch, Lagavulin used to be my favorite, but my go to now is Talisker 10. Still has the smoke and "umph" of Lagavulin, but also a much better balance in my opinion. Trader Joes carries a single malt scotch that's really good and very inexpensive, about $18 a bottle, called Finlaggin. It's no Talisker, but it's very good for the price and is my vote for a budget scotch.
Like cigars, trying everything is the key. Hit your local bar and start sampling. Once you've tried a few, identify what you liked and disliked about them, and better recommendations can follow.
One I found and has been 95 point rated is Lexington bourbon and can be had for about $22. Superb value.
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Eagle Rare is not a wheater, it shares the same mash bill as Buffalo Trace Stagg, Stagg Jr, this is their #1 mash bill and has about 8% rye which is pretty low for Bourbon. Their #2 mash bill has 15% rye and is used for ETL, Blanton's Rock Hill Farms.
jonnylieberman
Ask Me About Outrage
It's wheated.
StogieNinja
Derek | BoM June 2014
In WA , Four Roses is $42.99..... before taxes. After, it's $54!
MyFathersKeeper
nicK
jonnylieberman
Ask Me About Outrage
Uh... that link says nothing about the composition of the mash.
That said, I'm not really attached to this argument. If it's a higher quantity of rye, so be it.