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With whiskey prices creeping upward and premium bottles becoming harder to find, or justify, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the comeback bottom-shelf bourbon. The kind that’s been hiding in plain sight for years, gathering dust on the lower shelves of liquor stores, unfairly dismissed for its price tag or plastic cap.
But recent blind tastings and a shift in consumer sentiment are shining new light on these overlooked bottles. Whether it’s a workhorse for your Old Fashioneds or a surprisingly enjoyable neat pour, several budget bourbons are punching far above their weight.
What Counts as ‘Bottom Shelf Bourbon’ in 2025?
In simple terms: price and placement.
Bottom shelf bourbons are typically priced under $25/$30 for a 750ml bottle and found, quite literally, on the lowest shelf at most liquor stores. They’re usually younger, mass-produced, and come with minimal packaging.
But don’t let that fool you. Many share mashbills with more premium siblings, and as inflation pushes mid-tier bottles higher, these budget pours are becoming smart buys for everyday drinking or mixing.
Evan Williams Black Label
This might just be the most dependable budget bourbon on the shelf. It’s priced around $18/$22 and delivers that unmistakable Heaven Hill profile: sweet corn, brown sugar, light oak, and a peppery finish, all bottled at a manageable 43% ABV.
It’s not trying to be fancy. What it offers is a classic bourbon taste that works as well in a whiskey and cola as it does over ice after a long day. There’s a touch of youthful grain and a shorter finish, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. It’s the bottle you keep stocked for cocktails or casual pours that don’t need to impress anyone but you.
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You should try this if you like Elijah Craig, as both bourbons come from the same distillery and share the same mash bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley. The key difference is age: Elijah Craig Small Batch spends more time in the barrel, developing richer oak, spice, and a smoother finish. Evan Williams is its younger, punchier cousin, less refined, but still very much part of the same family.
Early Times Bottled-in-Bond
One of those under-the-radar bourbons that quietly wins people over. Priced around $24 to $28 (and still under $25 in some markets), Early Times Bottled-in-Bond is a 100 proof, no-nonsense bottle that delivers creamy vanilla, warm baking spices, and a subtle oak dryness. It is smooth, balanced, and does not shout for attention, just quietly gets the job done.
That slightly higher corn content (79%) gives it a rounder, softer character than some of its spicier counterparts. It is the kind of whiskey you can sip neat, drop into a cocktail, or pour for a mixed crowd and get nods all around.
You should try this if you like Old Forester 100. Both share Brown-Forman roots and a 100 proof profile, but while Old Forester leans into bold sweetness with banana, cherry cola, and rye spice, Early Times offers a more mellow take with toasty oak, cinnamon, and a drier, cleaner finish. They have different personalities, but if you like one, chances are you will appreciate the other.
Benchmark Bonded
One of the best-kept secrets in the Buffalo Trace portfolio. Priced around $17 to $23, it offers a full-bodied 100 proof pour that leans into vanilla, light oak, and a hint of fruit. It is straightforward, slightly grainy at times, but delivers impressive punch for the price.
Made from the same mash bill that gives us Buffalo Trace and Eagle Rare, the key difference is the barrel selection process. Benchmark Bonded is a younger, bolder expression, typically around four years old, and often pulled from less favored barrels. That means it brings a bit more heat and less complexity, but still retains the sweet corn and spice character.
You should try this if you like Buffalo Trace. While Benchmark is the more rugged, youthful cousin, it shares the same DNA. Buffalo Trace will give you a smoother, more polished experience with layers of caramel, citrus, and soft spice. Benchmark Bonded, on the other hand, delivers those same flavors in a punchier, less refined style that works brilliantly in cocktails or for high-proof sipping on a budget.
Wild Turkey 101
The benchmark for bold, affordable bourbon. Priced around $20 to $25, it delivers a spicy, full-flavored pour at 50.5 percent ABV with classic notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and charred oak. It is assertive without being unbalanced, and its high rye content adds a welcome bite.
Made with the same distillate as Russell’s Reserve 10 Year, Wild Turkey 101 is typically a blend of six to eight-year-old barrels. It carries the signature Wild Turkey profile but in a more youthful and fiery form.
You should try this if you like Russell’s Reserve 10 Year. Both share the same Wild Turkey heritage and mash bill, but Russell’s Reserve smooths out the edges. With a decade of barrel time and a lower 45 percent ABV, it leans into rich oak, brown sugar, and dried fruit, offering a more mellow, refined version of the Wild Turkey flavor. If you like the bold spice of 101, Russell’s gives you the same character with a softer touch.
Old Grand-Dad 114
A bold pour you can find under $30. Bottled at 57 percent ABV and built on a high rye mash bill, it brings intense spice, caramel, charred oak, and a noticeable herbal kick. It is fiery and unapologetic, with a finish that hangs on and reminds you exactly what you are drinking.
Produced by Jim Beam, it shares DNA with the rest of the Beam family but takes a different route with its high rye content. While not the smoothest sip neat, it excels in cocktails or with a splash of water. It is a no-frills powerhouse that rewards adventurous drinkers.
You should try this if you like Booker’s. Both come from Beam and bring big proof and big flavor, but where Booker’s leans into rich oak, peanut brittle, and deep complexity, Old Grand-Dad 114 offers a raw, spicier ride at a fraction of the price. Think of it as a younger, scrappier cousin, less polished, but still full of personality.
Do Not Underestimate the Bottom Shelf Bourbons
Price does not always reflect flavor, and in 2025, that has never been more true for bourbon. With premiums climbing and availability tightening, these so-called bottom-shelf bottles are proving their worth. Whether you are mixing cocktails, stocking up for guests, or just looking for a dependable everyday sipper, each of these bourbons offers strong value and character for the price.
Some may lack the age or polish of their premium counterparts, but they more than make up for it in utility, versatility, and occasionally, surprise. Taste blind and you might just pick the budget bottle over the big name.
So the next time you are scanning the shelves, do not look past the bottom row. You might just find your new favorite pour looking up at you.
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