The only spirits I consume is whiskey, always neat or with a splash of water. That being said, I'm still a novice whiskey drinker. I prefer bourbons and so far Evan Williams 1783 is my favorite "bottom shelf". I have some Old Overholt Rye but how do you drink it neat, as I don't like the taste of it.
Drinking the bottom shelf
- Thread starter BlackBard
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I should clarify the term "bottom shelf." By "bottom shelf" I meant "low price." Sometimes bottom shelf is surprisingly good. Personally, Gordon's is one of my favorite gins, regardless of price (for the same reasons you gave).
Evan Williams is my top shelf...
Vodka: Sobieski, Green Mark, Luksusowa, Costco Kirkland Brand, New Amsterdam vodka. My go to is usually Green Mark or Luksusowa. It used to be Sobieski, however they switched to plastic bottles. Just something about pouring a drink from a plastic bottle doesn't do it for me.
Bourbon: Benchmark, Evan Williams, Old Forrester 100 proof(pretty much Woodford Reserve just a little stronger proof) Evan Williams single barrel (best bargain for single barrel).
Gin: New Amsterdam. Im not really a gin guy but will usually have some New Amsterdam on hand.
Rum: Mount Gay
Bourbon: Benchmark, Evan Williams, Old Forrester 100 proof(pretty much Woodford Reserve just a little stronger proof) Evan Williams single barrel (best bargain for single barrel).
Gin: New Amsterdam. Im not really a gin guy but will usually have some New Amsterdam on hand.
Rum: Mount Gay
My stable isn't that big and therefore I don't generally have more than a few bottles on hand, almost all of which are towards the higher end. The one bottle that I do enjoy on occasion is Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Had a good deal of it in my younger days and still enjoy it, although not as often as once was.
No worries. Wasn't offended... or trying to come across as "Leave Gordon's alone!" guy.
Just a mite too strident in my typing....
No worries. Wasn't offended... or trying to come across as "Leave Gordon's alone!" guy.
Just a mite too strident in my typing....
Gordon's is also my pick for a "value" gin. I've noticed that most of the lower priced gins are 80 proof, whereas when you go higher up in price the proof also goes up, usually 94-96 proof.
It's truly bottom shelf if it only comes in plastic bottles no matter the size.
Vodka can be tricky because it's so driven by marketing. Many of the top shelf products are middling products at best with great marketing but there's also trashy vodka like smirnoff that's not top shelf but marketed above it's bottom shelf quality. There's also solid vodka like monopolowa that has virtually no marketing (at least in the US) but is one of the better vodkas out there at an extremely reasonable price.
Another problem with vodka is that there's a popular sentiment that it should be filtered down to flavorlessness to be good. That describes most of the top and mid shelf products. Vodka should be filtered for compounds that create unpleasant flavors and physical reactions but if the vodka is properly fermented it should not have to be stripped of all its flavor to remove all of the harsh flaws.
Vodka can be tricky because it's so driven by marketing. Many of the top shelf products are middling products at best with great marketing but there's also trashy vodka like smirnoff that's not top shelf but marketed above it's bottom shelf quality. There's also solid vodka like monopolowa that has virtually no marketing (at least in the US) but is one of the better vodkas out there at an extremely reasonable price.
Another problem with vodka is that there's a popular sentiment that it should be filtered down to flavorlessness to be good. That describes most of the top and mid shelf products. Vodka should be filtered for compounds that create unpleasant flavors and physical reactions but if the vodka is properly fermented it should not have to be stripped of all its flavor to remove all of the harsh flaws.
No worries. Wasn't offended... or trying to come across as "Leave Gordon's alone!" guy.
Just a mite too strident in my typing....
(fist bump)
Your wording has me curious. Are you referring to Canadian whisky, in general, being bottom shelf or just the 2 listed as bottom shelf Canadian whiskies?
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Montezuma Tequila...now THATS bottom shelf. Along wit Taaka Vodka. I drank plenty of that in college.
I remember a couple of bad mornings 20+ years ago due to Pepe Lopez tequila.
Jim Beam or Wild Turkey 101.
My favourite cheap spirit (but of really good quality) is the Šljivovica from Badel, Croatia. I don't know if it is available in the US but if you can find it, it is definitely worth a try!
Henry McKenna
Vodka:Sobieski, Pinnacle, Northern Peak, or Fris.
Irish Whiskey: Paddy.
Dan
Irish Whiskey: Paddy.
Dan
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Vodka: Svedka
Gin: Gordon's
Scotch Whisky: Teachers
Bourbon: Evan Williams Black Label
Tequila: Familia Camarena, El Jimador, Lunazul
Gin: Gordon's
Scotch Whisky: Teachers
Bourbon: Evan Williams Black Label
Tequila: Familia Camarena, El Jimador, Lunazul
I agree. Being retired, I go thru at least 2/1.75L of gin a month. When money permits it's Beefeater, otherwise it's Gordon's. I've tried most gins and avoid any of that modern, flavored crap they sell. Gordon's is actually quite good and is about $10-15 less than Beefeaters. The only downside to Gordon is it's lesser alcohol content. The only other real gins I will buy from time to time are "City of London", "Brokers" & Bombay (Sapphire and regular).
Never thought of George Dickel as bottom shelf.
[EDIT] Ok if you mean inexpensive.
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