The Best Value Bourbons Under $50 For 2026

With the rise of so many smaller bourbon brands, it can be difficult to know what to pick for a list like this. That said, given the huge range of products we have already tried in 2026 at The Whiskey Wash, we feel this selection is pretty spot on.

There are some classic bottles here, along with a few that have still flown under the radar, but all of them hit the sweet spot when it comes to value. You don’t have to empty your wallet for a good bottle of bourbon. Here are my picks for the best value bourbons under $50 for you to try this year.

1. Wild Turkey 101, 50.5%, $25

Starting with one of the most famous bottles of bourbon in the world. You can still pick this up for under $30, which is pretty remarkable in today’s whisky landscape, especially given the wider financial pressures many people are facing.

It’s so caramel and earth-driven in its flavour. Perfect as a neat pour or rather incredible in any cocktail format, Wild Turkey 101 is arguably the best value bottle of any whisky currently on sale across the world.

2. Four Roses Small Batch, 45%, $30

I have mentioned this bottle on a few lists before and taken some heat for it. I do read every comment, and I still stand by it. Four Roses produces exceptional bourbon at very fair prices.

This whiskey is rich with vanilla, coconut, caramel, rye spice, and a touch of heat from new American oak. A staple in my own home and behind many bars, it is a bottle you simply cannot go wrong with.

3. Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7 Year Old, 50%, $40

Heaven Hill is a massive distillery with a huge range to choose from. When it comes to Bottled in Bond whiskeys, you are spoiled for choice, but the honeyed aromas and flavours on this bottle are outstanding.

The age and higher proof deliver a long, chewy finish with plenty to savour. Warming, affordable, and from a highly respected producer, this is a reliable go-to.

4. Still Austin The Musician, 49.2%, $40

A brand I have only recently been able to try in the UK, but one I have been watching closely for some time. Made from 70% white corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley, this straight bourbon delivers a real journey of flavour.

Expect pineapple and coconut on the nose, a tropical opening, then notes of brown butter, almonds, toffee, more tropical fruit, and a touch of unmistakable Texas character.

5. Old Bardstown Estate, 50.5%, $37

Double distilled and aged for a decade, this is a bourbon that deserves to sit comfortably alongside some much bigger names.

Bardstown is central to Willett’s production, and while Willett can be hit and miss, and often expensive, this bottle offers access to one of the sources, with longer ageing and far better value. Expect plenty of red fruit and toffee, alongside coffee and vanilla.

6. Old Grand Dad 114 Proof, 57%, $30

A classic from the Jim Beam stable. The only downside is that it is not particularly easy to find in the UK. There is a strong sense of nostalgia attached to this brand for many bourbon drinkers.

For some, it was their first higher-strength bourbon. For others, it was what their parents or grandparents drank.

Big flavours of peanuts, caramel, and bold barrel spice make this an excellent bottle for the money.

7. Penelope Four Grain, 40%, $20

Blended from three different straight bourbon mashbills and four grains, corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley, Penelope has built a strong reputation over the past few years. For the price, this is a surprisingly layered whiskey. The oak influence is delicate, supported by buttercream, popcorn, caramel syrup, and baked vanilla. The mashbill is 75% corn, 15% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley.

Finding Value Bourbon In 2026

You can still find excellent bottles of bourbon without spending a fortune. If your local retailer happens to be running a sale, you could even walk away with two of these for $50. That is impressive at a time when premiumisation dominates much of the conversation around bourbon and whisky more broadly.

Blue-collar bottles still exist, and you do not need to overspend to find them.