Not an alternative to Crown. 40 creek is far superior to Crown. Sobieski is another really good vodka for <$15 for a 750ml.
Was going to start a new thread, but I think this fits here. What's in your bar? Also, where's the best place to find limited edition whiskeys? I'd like to have a taste of rare stuff before all the hype and crazy appreciation
What are you Tito's folks talking about? Tito's isn't much cheaper (if at all) than Sky/Stoli/Absolute. I believe the OP is looking for the best balance between price and taste. I love Tito's, but great value it is not. I'm a vodka man - not by trade, only by habit and reputation - and I've tried them all... sometimes you're on the road (not literally), out of state, or otherwise in foreign territory but still need a nip. If value is your #1 criteria, the best of the bunch in my mind is SVEDKA, a Swedish Vodka. It's smooth, but not the smoothest. Clean, but not without imperfections. Like all vodka, it's best chilled in the freezer until it pours out like maple syrup and frosts up your glass instantly. The best part? Spec's sells a handle (all glass bottle, mind you) for under $20 (cash or debit, of course). I've never seen it anywhere (and I've bought it everywhere) for more than $24.99. Drink up and enjoy!
Titos is the no brainer on the cost vs quality comparison. It's better than grey goose or any of those other name brand vodkas and typically less than half the price. And most importantly, TEXAS.
Tito's blows everything you just mentioned away... along with more "expensive" vodkas. That's why it wins. Close this thread!
Tito's & Rebecca's creek. CAnt go wrong. Lunazul tequila used to be my number one, up there in terms of bang for the buck, but they seem to have gotten more expensive in the past few years. shut up
Good suggestions but mostly vodka... and I'm not the biggest vodka fan. Still, I'll give Tito's a shot.
For a real budget bourbon, best bang for your buck to me is Evan Williams Black. A 1.75L runs you $20, mixes great, and is drinkable on the rocks. Moving up from EWB, I'd go with Jim Beam Black, which is awesome at less than $20 for a 0.75L. If you can score Buffalo Trace or Wild Turkey 101 at that price, those are also great, but it's getting hard to find BT and WT101 at those price points anymore. The only affordable wheated bourbon (ala Makers Mark and Pappy Van Winkle) that tastes way better than it costs is Weller Special Reserve, which is downright cheap at $30 for a 1.75L. Weller 12 and Weller Antique 107 are also great buys at around $25-27 for 0.75L. You used to be able to get a lot of amazing, cheap rye, but those days are long gone. Rittenhouse 100 is probably my recommendation, but I liked it a lot more at under $20 than I do at closer to $30. I don't drink my clear liquors straight, so I tend to go for "good enough." For tequila, El Jimador Silver makes a great margarita (2 parts tequila, 1 part triple sec, 1 part lime), though both Hornitos and Cazadores are worth a splurge when they're on sale. I'll echo the recommendations of Monopolowa vodka and Cruzan 2 Year light rum. For gin, Gordon's is the only thing I've found that makes a decent martini at a price lower than your standard Beefeater or Bombay Sapphire.
Rebecca Creek is good, but definitely not cheap. 35 for a fifth or 45 for a 1.75. Really good stuff though. I did the tour a few years back.
Add me to the Espolon tequila recommendation. Olmeca Altos and El Jimador are both good bargain tequilas. Milagros is not bad either.
I also like getting Texas Crown if it's not going to be going to my personal supply. Everyone always seems to like it, and it's fairly cheap.
