Top-Quality Drinks, Bargain-Rack Prices
A few weeks ago I put up a post about drinking on the cheap during tough economic times. I’m obviously not the only one giving thought to the virtues of affordable booze.
In last weekend’s Wall Street Journal, Eric Felten walked through a blind tasting of six affordable bourbons. While regular readers of the WSJ aren’t likely to be reaching for the rotgut shelf anytime soon, Felten wanted to step away from the boutique bourbons that typically get all the ink, and try a few brands that are available at most any bar in America. To raise the stakes (somewhat), he tasted the bourbons blind, so any prejudices against particular labels or price points would ideally be eliminated as a factor.
His top pick? The humble Evan Williams, which Felten picked up for about $10; this venerable whiskey bested more upmarket brands such as Wild Turkey and Maker’s Mark, which Felten described as tasting "thin, raw and twangy."
