School me on Scotch.

[Jered]

Johnny Walker Red isn't supposed to taste good on it's own. It's marketed as a mixer. Reportedly ol' Winnie's standard choice for diluting his nightly soda... Hmmm, Johhny Red and a broomhandle Mauser

If you're ever up in Bellingham, I'll let you shoot it.

[Lokidude]

My favorite cheap vodka is Smirnoff's Blue Label. 100 proof, and cleaner than anything else I've tried, especially at the price.

[HTRN]

My favorite cheap vodka is Smirnoff's Blue Label. 100 proof, and cleaner than anything else I've tried, especially at the price.

Smirnoff, Sobeiski, Svedka, Friis. All are generally cheaper than the likes of Absolut, and are pretty good as shooters. In a cocktail? they're ideal from a cost perspective.

[MarkD]

You guys should try Loch Dhu - described as "like licking an ashtray", and "the best thing you can do with it is pour it down the sink". Another real crappy whiskey is "Old Smuggler" - the price is a major clue that it's best use is as solvent.

Interestingly, the site Maltmadness.com, a whiskey rating and testing website, put Walker Red label on the "D list"(one step above undrinkable). I didn't think it was that bad.. Course, I was using it to fill a pocket flask, something I wouldn't do with say, an 18 year old Macallan, or Ardbeg Uigeadail.

If you guys want some cheap drinkable stuff, especially for cocktails and mixers:
Evan Williams Bourbon.
Friis Vodka(better than absolut, and disgustingly cheap).
Don Q and Bacardi Select Rum. Both are under 11 bucks/750ml, and the Don Q won best of Show in the world beverage competition.
New Amsterdam Gin is cheap and tends to score well in competitions, Beefeater is another option.
Sauza Tequila Reposado Hornitos scored an 89 from Wine Spectator, and costs under 20 bucks/750ml.

I've seen Evan Williams, never tried it. It seems like it's trying to look like Jack Daniels (which, as mentioned above, is NOT a bourbon).

I had an uncle who drank Seagrams Seven Crown, ugh, horrible stuff. He drank it mixed with whatever soda was available. I saw him drink a 1.75L bottle of the stuff in 6-8 hours, then drive back to Florida (he drove up to visit my Mom when she got sick). Since that was pretty much a daily thing for him, cost was a concern (note the past tense when I speak of my uncle). You couldn't tell he'd had a drop, let alone a big bottle.

[HTRN]

I've seen Evan Williams, never tried it. It seems like it's trying to look like Jack Daniels (which, as mentioned above, is NOT a bourbon).

I'm pretty sure it's deliberate. I've never had it, but I've read a coupla heads up reviews between it and JD. Opinion seems to be split(it's commonly noted that JD is sweeter and lower proof), but I will point out that it's like 18 bucks a handle, vs. 32 or so for JD.

Like I said, for mixers and cocktails, it makes sense to use the cheaper stuff that's pretty good, vs. the more expensive stuff that's slightly better.

[Rod]

Bunch of us in Thailand got bored. No Coke so we started drinking Jim Beam and Orange Nehi. Talk about NASTY!

[rightisright]

Smirnoff, Sobeiski, Svedka, Friis.

Sobieski has won all sorts of awards across Europe. Often beating Grey Goose, Ketel One, etc. It's the only vodka I buy now. For $18 a 1.75l, it's an absolut (sic) bargain. Went through about 10 bottles during the NFL playoffs (I have the biggest TV and am not married. My house is the natural choice for football parties ). I've never seen it served at a bar, though. Probably because it has top shelf taste at a bargain basement price. If customers knew, the bar would lose their huge mark up on top shelf vodka.

For a great bourbon at an affordable price, Elijah Craig can't be beat. Jim Murray of The Whisky Bible describes it as "...a world masterpiece, the kind of whiskey that makes you glad to be alive." And it's ~$22 a bottle.

I'm a firm believer that one does not need to pay through the nose for great quality spirits.

[Denis]

I'm a firm believer that one does not need to pay through the nose for great quality spirits.

I'd say get the good stuff for the first bottle... for the second, go cheaper... by that time you can't taste the difference anymore.

[randy]

I'm a firm believer that one does not need to pay through the nose for great quality spirits.

I'd say get the good stuff for the first bottle... for the second, go cheaper... by that time you can't taste the difference anymore.

My groups philosophy for parties during college. A couple of cases of good beer to start with and a keg of the cheapest beer we could get for the rest of the party.

[McClarkus]

Scotch = burnt firewater IMHO....... I choke one down every once in a while to remind my why I don't normally buy it.