Bottom-Shelf Bourbons That You Should Actually Try

Wild Turkey 101 has a 55% ABV and costs only around $20 per bottle. Aged in American white oak barrels, its mash bill is 75% corn, 12% malted barley, and 13% rye.

Wild Turkey 101 has notes of peppery spice and cinnamon combined with the sweetness typical of bourbon, and it is complex enough for even a bourbon enthusiast to appreciate.

The 80-proof Four Roses Kentucky straight bourbon retails at around $24 and is made by blending up to ten different recipes. It is then aged for at least five years.

The blend creates a lighter and smoother bourbon that's great for those new to the category. The nose leans on the floral side, and it’s overall a great bottom-shelf buy.

Bulleit's flagship drink is a Kentucky straight bourbon made out of 68% corn, 28% rye, and 4% malted barley. It has a bold flavor with spicy notes and is less sweet.

Evan Williams Kentucky straight bourbon is the second best-selling bourbon in the country. It usually retails for under $15 and delivers a lot for such a low price.

Men's Journal writer Christopher Friedmann calls Evan Williams black label the "bourbon that remains [his] go-to order [because it's] cheap, reliable, [and] oh-so-available."

Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon retails at around $25, and it sees a minimum of eight years in the barrel, which is a long aging time for a cheaper bourbon.

Liquor writer Amy Zavatto calls Buffalo Trace "an incredible bang-for-the-buck value" and says that the bourbon has flavors of butterscotch, nutmeg, and cracked pepper.