15 Best Whiskeys Under $30 (2023 Updated)

Last Updated on May 1, 2023 by Lydia Martin

Most people think whiskey is very expensive because it’s a top-shelf spirit. But did you know that there are affordable but high-quality whiskeys on the market under $30?

If you want to bring home one, our team will gladly help you find the best whiskey under $30 without a hassle. 

15 Best Whiskey Bottles Under $30

1. Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey

When it comes to whiskey, Jack Daniel’s is the first thing to cross people’s minds in Tennessee because it has a signature taste synonymous with southern living [1]. A 750 ml bottle is approximately $26, and its smoothness is legendary. 

The Black Label Jack Daniel’s whiskey base label is filtered through ten feet of maple wood charcoal for the smooth and mellow taste. Here’s a list of the most expensive Jack Daniel’s. 

2. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Buffalo Trace is the oldest operating distillery in the United States, and the best whiskeys are distributed on allocation to ensure that every state gets a shot [2]. The distillery makes the finest whiskey. You can get the BTK Straight Bourbon Whiskey at approximately $25 per 750 ml. 

For more than 200 years, Buffalo Trace received multiple awards and is now considered a National Historic Landmark. A premium bottle has a mellow, rich, slightly sweet hint of vanilla, warm toffee notes, and oak. 

3. Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon

The Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon is a strong bourbon whiskey because of its alcohol proof. Even at 100 proof, Old Forester bourbon whiskey has a full-flavor blend that is not too intense. 

A 750ml bottle is roughly $27, and it has different notes of spicy and sweet. For a fun fact, the 100 Proof Bourbon Whiskey was sold as medicine 101 years ago. 

4. Bulleit Bourbon

Bulleit Bourbon is an iconic bourbon inside an old west saloon-style bottle. The brand new distillery recently opened in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and it produces top and bottom-shelf whiskeys. 

A 750 ml is priced at roughly $29. It has slightly sweet, clean, and peppery notes, which is a perfect example of bourbon. 

5. Redemption High-Rye Bourbon

The Redemption High-Rye Bourbon is a dominant American spirit popularized for more than two hundred years. A 750 ml of rye whiskey is priced at roughly $29. 

The Redemption Bourbon Whiskey has fruit, mint, and bitter notes from the mash bill. It has a spicy and bold taste because of its mash bill that contains 95% grain.

Read: Best Sipping Whiskeys For Beginners

6. Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey 101 is a bourbon whiskey distilled by Master Distiller Jimmy Russell who’s been with the brand as a Master Distiller for more than sixty years. A bottle of Wild Turkey 101 can be bought for approximately $26. 

Its high 101 proof can be ideal for drinking with a mixer or beer. Moreso, the bourbon whiskey has a char and good wood notes with a dose of rye spice. 

Read: List of the Smoothest Whiskeys

7. Tincup American Whiskey

Tincup American whiskey is a fine whiskey with high rye content for a powerful and spicier hint. A 750 ml bottle, roughly $30, has a light palate with sweet grain, cinnamon spice, and apple notes. Moreso, it comes with a tin cup that serves as a cool shot glass. 

8. Evan Williams Single Barrel

The Evan Williams Single Barrel is a premium bottle of bourbon with a 7-8 year age statement. A 750 ml is priced under $30, and it has a dominating palate of fig, rock candy, and toasted corn. Moreso, the single barrel vintage has an amazing balance of spice, so smooth and mellow. 

Also Read: Evan Williams vs Jack Daniel’s

9. Woodford Reserve

The Woodford Reserve is a bourbon whiskey made from corn, rye, malted barley, and Kentucky limestone water. A 750 ml bottle of Woodford Reserve in 90.4 proof is sold at roughly $26. The straight bourbon whiskey has a sweet, warm, creamy, and spicy taste and has caramel and vanilla notes. 

10. Redemption

Redemption bourbon is an easy-drinking whiskey known for its subtle flavor. The straight bourbon whiskey has a well-balanced sweetness and comes with notes of caramel and a sweeter side.

The price is roughly $26 and can be enjoyed on the rocks or incorporated into mixed drinks. But what’s the best bourbon under $20?

11. Chattanooga Whiskey 91

Chattanooga is a Tennessee whiskey made with four grains and three specialty malts. The high malt whiskey is fermented for seven days before aging in two different barrels. A 750 ml Chattanooga Whiskey 91 is roughly $27. This unique Tennessee whiskey has a rich, long apricot, toast, and honey palette. 

12. George Dickel Rye

George Dickel Rye is a known rye whiskey that employs the Lincoln County process of spirit filtering. The distiller chills the whiskey before filtering it through charcoal to smoothen the rye whiskey. A 750 ml costs around $27, and the 90 proof whiskey is perfect for sipping and cocktails. 

Read: What’s The Cheapest Whiskey To Drink Straight?

13. Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a bourbon with elicit taste from the best barrels. It is a wheated bourbon wherein the second grain is wheat instead of rye, making it a mellow and rounder bourbon. A 750 ml can cost you around $28 only and is famous because of its butter caramel notes. 

Read: Bourbon & Rye Compared

14. Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey

The Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey is one of the best whiskey under $30, and its secret is the barrel aging that imparts the flavor of the spirit.

For roughly $23, you can pour one and enjoy a 750 ml straight bourbon whiskey with 90 proof, premium aroma, and deep color.  

Read: Jim Beam vs Knob Creek Bourbon

15. Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a known whiskey under $24, and it uses two mash bills and five different yeast strains that complete the notes of the finished whiskey. The bourbon is ideal for premium cocktails and good for sipping because of its 80 proof. 

FAQs 

Is a whiskey under $30 considered top shelf?

Yes, there is a whiskey under $30 that is considered top-shelf. While most top-shelf whiskey bottles are above $30, some of the best-known bourbons are at this price point. They are excellent candidates as a top-shelf spirit.

Final Thoughts

The best whiskeys under $30 are among the most sought-after bottles because of their affordability, reliable taste, and quality. While the world of whiskey is complicated because there are different brands, ages, specialties, and prices, these whiskeys under $30 prove that you can bring home excellent spirit without breaking your bank. 

What’s your favorite whiskey under $30? Let us know by commenting down below. 

Reference:

1. https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/tennessee/articles/a-brief-history-of-jack-daniels/ 
2. https://www.gearpatrol.com/food/drinks/a544955/buffalo-trace-whiskey/