In this article, we are going to discuss the 30 best whiskeys under $30. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global whiskey market, a new entrant in the whiskey business, and a recent acquisition in the whiskey industry, and go directly to 10 Best Whiskeys Under $30.
Whiskey has been the drink of choice for many Americans since time immemorial, a constant companion as they have gone through life changing and trend setting phases throughout history. Its rise in the country was due in large part to the fact that it didn’t have to be imported. Unlike rum, which was made from sugarcane and molasses shipped from British-controlled islands in the Caribbean to distilleries in New England, whiskey could be distilled anywhere in America from domestically sourced raw ingredients. Corn, in particular, was plentiful in the New World. In fact, during the time of Andrew Jackson, it was believed that God had made corn for America and Americans for corn. Thus, they naturally thought of whiskey as their national drink.
Global Whiskey Market:
Whiskey is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global whiskey market valued at $64 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $91.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.
The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a ‘cocktail culture’. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased. Product innovations, such as flavored whiskeys, and organic and sustainable options are also some of the major factors propelling the market.
2022 was also a great year for Scotch whisky and exports of Scotland’s native spirit hit $7.5 billion last year, the highest figures ever. Exports by volume rose substantially as well, with the number of 700 ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21%, to 1.67 billion.
Similarly, as we mentioned in our article – 25 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Under $50 – Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if we’re looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its signature whiskey.
The positive economic impact of the beloved golden liquor is something we seldom consider when having a drink, but, given the facts, maybe it’s time we all raise a glass to it.
New Entrant in the Whiskey Business:
The beer behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) is also getting ready to join the lucrative whiskey bandwagon and has recently announced the launch of its Magnum Double Barrel Whiskey in India. This move shouldn’t come as a surprise as the alcohol giant has also unveiled its vodka and gin brands over the last few years, thus marking its grand arrival in the spirits industry.
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) also announced the release of D’Yavol Inception in the Indian market this summer – a blended malt Scotch whisky that it’s launching in partnership with Aryan Khan, son of the Bollywood sensation Shahrukh Khan.
With a total revenue of around $57.8 billion last year, Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.
Recent Acquisition in the Whiskey Industry:
In August, the brewing giant Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) made its first spirits acquisition with the purchase of Bourbon and rye whiskey producer Blue Run Spirits. The Chicago-based beer company said that the deal marked another step in its ‘evolution’ into a total beverage company. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The addition of Blue Run expands Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP)’s footprint in spirits as it seeks to premiumise its portfolio. Furthermore, the company has also established the Coors Spirits Co. to house its existing spirits business, which includes Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon, and ‘future innovation’. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), which owns Coors Light and Miller Lite brands, is counted among the Best Alcohol Stocks to Own According to Hedge Funds.
With that said, here are the Highest Quality Whiskeys Under $30.
Copyright: monticello / 123RF Stock Photo
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Whiskeys Under $30. We picked whiskeys that appeared at least twice in these sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two whiskeys had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) of their 750 ml bottles.
Note: Prices have been sourced primarily from Wine-Searcher. Other sources include Mega Wine and Spirits and Total Wine. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of these prices.
30. Redemption Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $28
Redemption Bourbon is a relatively new whiskey, owned by Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits – a company that pays keen attention to detail during aging and batching. This leads to the distinctiveness of the taste and ensures consistency from bottle to bottle.
29. Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $26
Tullamore D.E.W. prides itself on its complex yet approachable flavors, which it credits to its use of three types of grain, a triple distillation, and the blending of three types of Irish whiskey — single malt, single grain, and pot still.
Set in the heart of Ireland, the Tullamore distillery spans a whopping 58 acres where 11 million liters of whiskey are produced each year, making Tullamore D.E.W. one of the finest examples of Ireland’s whiskey renaissance.
At $26 a bottle, Tullamore D.E.W. is one of the Best Whiskeys Under $40.
28. Jim Beam Devil’s Cut
Insider Monkey Score:2
Price: $24
A devilish twist on Jim Beam’s regular Bourbon, blending their 6 year old whiskey with spirit extracted from the wood of the cask itself, where it’s soaked in over the years of maturation.
With 16.7 million cases sold last year, Jim Beam bourbon whiskey was the most popular American whiskey brand in the world. Founded in 1795, Jim Beam has been operated by the same family for seven generations now.
27. The Famous Grouse
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $22.99
Produced by the Edrington Group in Scotland, The Famous Grouse has been Scotland’s favorite whisky for over 40 years. At an affordable price, this perfectly balanced blend of the finest malt and grain whiskies delivers a rich, smooth spirit full of natural character.
26. Fighting Cock Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $19
This bad boy of Bourbon is bottled at a robust 103 proof, but its 6 years of aging smoothes out the feathers really well. Owned by Heaven Hill, Fighting Cock is a brand that’s been set to court the younger consumer and lives in that $20 range where it’s accessible and you don’t feel like you’ve wasted a ton of money on a gamble for trying it.
25. Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $17.99
With a silky texture and hints of oak and sweet vanilla, this 80 proof whisky provides a refined flavor that enhances any cocktail party or celebration.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) made its Super Bowl debut in 2023 with an ad for its Crown Royal Canadian Whisky, when the company bought a 30-second spot tentatively slated for the third quarter. The liquor giant has also announced plans to build a new $185 million distillery for the brand. The facility, with capacity to produce up to 20 million liters of alcohol annually, will sit on approximately 400 acres in Ontario.
24. Mellow Corn
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $16.99
Mellow Corn is produced in accordance with a unique set of regulations that define Straight Corn Whiskey. It is distilled from a mash of at least 80% corn and aged for four years in a once-used Bourbon barrel. Heaven Hill Distillery is one of the few remaining producers of this unique whiskey.
23. J.W. Dant Bourbon
Insider Monkey Score: 2
Price: $15
Around 1830, J.W. Dant in Kentucky distilled whiskey with a cheap log still. To this day, Heaven Hill makes this Bourbon whiskey in metal stills according to Dant’s recipe. With the Bottled-in-Bond quality certificate, this is a fine Bourbon for a good price.
J.W. Dant ranks among the Best Whiskeys Under $20.
22. Dewar’s 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $28
A direct descendant of the signature Blended Scotch Whisky introduced over a century ago, this double-aged Scotch liquor delivers a smooth rich taste with notes of dried fruit, citrus, and vanilla.
In 1998, Bacardi Limited agreed to buy the Dewar’s Scotch whisky and Bombay gin brands from Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) in a $1.94 billion cash deal that significantly expanded and diversified Bacardi’s liquor portfolio in the U.S.
21. Old Overholt ‘Bonded’ Straight Rye Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $26
Distilled in one season, at one distillery, and bottled at 100 proof, this straight rye whiskey is aged for four years in new, American charred oak barrels. Produced at the Jim Beam distillery in Kentucky, Old Overholt is the oldest continually maintained brand of whiskey in America.
20. Johnnie Walker Red Label
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $24
Johnnie Walker Red Label Blended Scotch whisky is the flagship of the Johnnie Walker portfolio and the best-selling Scotch whisky brand in the world. It brings together whiskies specially chosen for their bold, vibrant flavors that add a fiery kick to any mix.
Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), Johnnie Walker ranks among the Most Popular Scotch Whisky Brands in USA.
19. Old Forester 86 Proof
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $22.99
Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only Bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during, and after Prohibition. At 86 proof, Old Forester delivers a genuine Bourbon experience, with rich, full flavor, and a smooth character that is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water, or in a classic cocktail.
At $22.99, Old Forester 86 Proof is one of the Best Cheap Whiskeys in the market.
18. Early Times Bottled-in-Bond
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $20
Early Times Bottled-in-Bond is crafted with pure water, a mash bill composed of 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley, fermented with a proprietary yeast strain and carefully distilled.
During the turbulent 1940s, Early Times proudly introduced Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon to the satisfaction of the heroic, hard-working men and women of that era. And in the decade that followed, the brand became America’s top-selling Bourbon.
The Brown-Forman Corporation sold off the Early Times brand to the Sazerac Company
three years ago.
17. Very Old Barton
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Price: $14
Very Old Barton is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon that has been matured for an average of four to six years in charred, American oak casks before being bottled at 100 proof. As a result, the whiskey has a rich amber color along with an aroma of vanilla beans and chewy leather.
Very Old Barton is owned by the New Orleans-based Sazerac Company.
16. Rittenhouse Rye Whisky
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $30
Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps this historic Maryland mark alive with this award-winning six-year-old, 110 proof offering. For $30 a bottle, this affordable whiskey carries a distinct, spicy flavor, and is produced in the tradition of the classic rye whiskeys that once dominated American whiskey.
15. Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $19
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond is aged under government supervision and meeting the exact requirements for a Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. It has all the kick you expect, but still goes down smooth.
The Even Williams brand is owned by the family-owned Heaven Hill Distillery. With a price tag of $19.99 for a 750 ml bottle, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond is among the Cheapest Whiskeys You Can Buy.
14. Canadian Club 1858
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $15
The flagship of Canadian Club, 1858 is an easy-drinking whisky that is aged longer than the 3 years required by Canadian law in oak barrels, before bottling for the smoothest possible flavor.
With 6.5 million cases sold worldwide in 2022, the Canadian Club brand is counted among the Most Popular Whiskey Brands in the World.
13. Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $27.99
Produced by William Grant & Sons, Monkey Shoulder is a blend of three main single malt whiskies – Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie – all from Speyside, the spiritual home of whisky. Back in 2018, the brand enlisted a truck topped with a giant shaker, called the ‘Monkey Mixer’, to drive around the 50 states with a mission to redefine Scotch’s role in the cocktail industry.
12. Evan Williams Black Label
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $16
Owned by Heaven Hill, this whiskey is everything consumers should want out of a Bourbon – affordable, accessible, and a classic Bourbon flavor profile. Evan Williams Black Label is aged longer than required by law and bottled at 86 proof. The result is a Bourbon that is smooth, rich, and easy to enjoy.
The Evan Williams Black Label is counted among the Best Whiskeys Under $25.
11. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $20
Distilled with corn, malted barley, time, pride, and passion, there’s a reason why Jim Beam Bourbon is on almost every bar shelf. To get the distinct flavor of Jim Beam, the distillery ages the liquor in charred oak barrels for a minimum of four years.
Jim Beam Bourbon sits among the Best Inexpensive Bourbons Under $30 that Don’t Taste Cheap.
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- 29 Best Alcoholic Drinks that Don’t Taste Like Alcohol
Disclosure: None. 30 Best Whiskeys Under $30 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
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