The Wallet-Friendly Whiskey Brand Experts Recommend For Sipping And Cocktails

When an occasion calls for whiskey, it might be tempting to reach for whatever bottom shelf bottle you can find. The thing is, you don't have to sacrifice quality because you're giving your bank account a break. Mashed has interviewed several mixologists, distillation professionals, restaurateurs, and connoisseurs over the years in an effort to uncover the smoothest, most affordable whiskey brands, and there's one that keeps showing up. Of all the cheap whiskey brands experts recommend, Four Roses bourbon is a common denominator that works as well in a cocktail as it does on the rocks.

Four Roses has been around since the 1800's and crafts 10 different bourbon recipes by blending proprietary yeast strains and mash bills. The company markets its whiskey as a down-to-earth spirit with award-winning qualities (you can snag a 750-milliliter bottle for about $22). It's a versatile value option according to Steven Marshall, lead bartender at Dirty Habit in San Francisco, and Phil McKenna, head bartender at MAD Bar & Lounge at the NH Collection New York Madison Avenue.

"Four Roses is known for creating elegant, approachable bourbons that offer remarkable balance and consistency," McKenna told Mashed, highlighting the dynamic qualities of Four Roses' entry-level bottle, formerly known as Four Roses Yellow Label Bourbon. McKenna noted another pick for an affordable yet outstanding whiskey is Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. "It's delicious neat or on the rocks and works beautifully in cocktails such as a whiskey sour, mint julep, or Old Fashioned," he said.

Whiskey aficionados also pick Four Roses as an easy-drinking, entry-level bourbon, describing it as a lighter spirit than other whiskeys. "It doesn't smack you like Woodford Reserve, but that's kinda why I like it," one Reddit user wrote, adding, "It's clean and a bit spicy." Others say Four Roses' small batch bourbons are the best. "Really where F.R. shines though is the single barrel offerings," writes another Redditor, "My state has them at $50 ($48 on sale), and they are generally very good."

Fans say Four Roses is a solid sipping whiskey and well-suited to all kinds of cocktails as well. It's a good choice for building a classic Old Fashioned, Paper Plane cocktail, Sazerac, and other traditional bourbon-based drinks. The spirit is just about as easy to find as it is easy to use. The brand's whole line is available at Total Wine & More, while Four Roses' entry-level bourbon is stocked at places like Hy-Vee, Target, and similar chains.