🥃 Build Your Whiskey Collection (Without Going Broke): Part 1 of 3

💥 Opening Pour

Let me say this plain and simple:

You don’t need a fat wallet or a rare unicorn bottle to sip like royalty.
Some of the best whiskey I’ve ever poured didn’t come with a velvet rope or a collector’s case—just a good story and a damn fine flavor.

Today, I’m starting a 3-part series to help you build a whiskey collection without going broke or blind.
And it begins with 5 bottles that punch above their proof. 🥊

📖 The Story

When I first started curating my own collection, I did what most folks do when they catch the whiskey bug.

I thought if it didn’t cost a small fortune or come wrapped in velvet, it wasn’t worth pouring.
My shelf looked impressive, sure—but my wallet looked like it had just been mugged.

Then one night, I hosted a tasting in my old farmhouse tasting room. You know the kind—dim lights, crackling fire, records spinning Muddy Waters on low.

I lined up the “big boys” for the crowd—$100+ bottles, limited releases, even one I had to fight off a dentist and a banker to win in a raffle.

But something odd happened.
The crowd kept asking for refills of one particular bottle.

Not the rare single barrel. Not the barrel-strength beast.

It was Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond.

I’d thrown it on the table as a warm-up pour, not expecting it to steal the show. But steal it, it did.
Everyone loved it. It was rich, warm, reliable—and it cost me less than a takeout pizza.

That night, I poured neat glasses and humble pie.
I realized I had been chasing price, not palate.

Since then, I’ve made it my mission to help others build smart, soulful collections—not just expensive ones.
Because the best whiskey isn’t the one that costs the most—it’s the one that makes you smile when you sip it, and proud when you share it.

So if you’re looking to build your whiskey shelf without blowing your rent or buying hype...

Start here—with 5 bottles that punch above their proof.

Because nothing’s better than finding a bottle that tastes like $100 but costs $30... except maybe sharing that secret with a friend. 🍂

🥇 The Weekly Pour

Bottle: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond

Price: ~$20
Proof: 100
Age: 4+ years
Nose: Vanilla, warm caramel, a hint of peanut shell
Palate: Rich oak, cinnamon spice, toasted corn
Finish: Long and warming with peppery heat

✅ True Bottled-in-Bond value
✅ Excellent mixer AND neat sipper
✅ Taste that beats bottles twice the price

🛒 Buy it now - $19.99

Bottle: Wild Turkey 101

Price: ~$30
Proof: 101
Age: Blend of 6–8 years
Nose: Toasted wood, spice, orange peel
Palate: Bold vanilla, pepper, toffee
Finish: Warm, sweet, and lingering

✅ Great backbone for cocktails
✅ Classic bourbon fire with finesse
✅ Affordable and available

🛒 Buy it now → $29.99

Bottle: Buffalo Trace

Price: ~$30
Proof: 90
Age: 6–8 years (unofficial)
Nose: Brown sugar, dried fruit, molasses
Palate: Silky mouthfeel, vanilla cream, light spice
Finish: Gentle and sweet with a soft fade

✅ Cult classic with a story
✅ Friendly for beginners
✅ Collectible at the price

🛒 Buy it now → $28.99

Bottle: Old Forester 100

Price: ~$30
Proof: 100
Age: NAS (approx. 4–6 years)
Nose: Dark chocolate, ripe banana, burnt sugar
Palate: Nutty, chewy oak, pepper
Finish: Medium with baking spice kick

✅ Mixes like a champ
✅ Old-school heritage
✅ Bold yet balanced

🛒 Buy it now → $29.99

Bottle: Elijah Craig Small Batch

Price: ~$30
Proof: 94
Age: 8–12 years
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, nutmeg, orange zest
Palate: Deep oak, honey, charred sugar
Finish: Slow fade with smoky sweetness

✅ Aged longer than most
✅ Great complexity under $40
✅ Elegant finish

🛒 Buy it now → $26.99

🍹The Art of Mixing

Cocktail: The Budget Boulevardier
A smoky cousin of the Negroni with bourbon swagger.

Ingredients

• 1 oz Wild Turkey 101

• 1 oz Campari

• 1 oz Sweet Vermouth

• Orange peel (for garnish)

Instructions

• Stir all ingredients with ice

• Strain into a rocks glass over a large cube

• Garnish with expressed orange peel

Tip: Use a bolder bourbon like Wild Turkey or Old Forester to stand up to the Campari.

🍖 Flavor Pairing Picks

Pair it with:

🍗 Pulled pork sliders — The smoke and sweetness echo nicely with Wild Turkey 101
🍑 Peach cobbler — Let Buffalo Trace's vanilla and brown sugar mingle with warm dessert
💨 Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real — A creamy cigar that complements Elijah Craig’s spice and oak

🧠 Big Lesson of the Week

A whiskey’s price doesn’t decide its power.
It’s the pour, the palate, and the purpose it serves in your collection.

🥂 Final Toast

Here’s to the bottles that show up bold, speak smooth, and leave change in your pocket.

🥃 Repeatable Proverb

“Start small. Sip slow. Let your collection grow.”

✨ Step Inside The Lounge — Where Whiskey Stories Live

You’ve been writing your whiskey journey.
Now share it with others who pour with the same passion.

When you join The Lounge, you’ll get:

• 📖 Exclusive Report — Top 10 Whiskeys Under $50 (yours free the moment you join).

• 🏆 Real Rewards for Real Participation — earn whiskey swag gifts just by showing up and sharing.

• 💬 Civilized Conversation with Pour-Curious People — no snobbery, just good pours and good company.

• 🌍 Connect with Like-Minded Whiskey Enthusiasts from All Over the World — your tribe is waiting.

🕰️ Free Lounge Entry — Secure Your Spot at the Bar

Now Its Your Turn

Have a bottle under $40 that drinks like it’s worth double?
Hit reply and share your secret pour. I might just feature it next week.
Or ⭐ star this issue so you can come back when you’re building your bar.

Cheers to cold nights, hot pours, and building your foundation the right way,

Ethan “Neat” Whitmore

P.S. Friday in Part 2, we’re moving up the shelf with bottles around $50 that drink like a hundred.
And in Part 3? I’ll show you how to choose your crown jewel—the one bottle that earns its splurge.

Trust me, you won’t want to miss what’s coming.