🥃 Drink Like a Legend, Spend Like a Local

💥 Opening Pour

It’s Friday—and we’re moving up the shelf. 🥃
I’m talking about that sweet spot—$50 bottles that drink like they cost twice as much.

Because you don’t need to drop a hundred to impress your tastebuds (or your buddies). You just need to know where the good stuff hides.

📖 The Story

A few years back in a liquor shop off a two-lane road in Kentucky, I found myself squinting at a shelf of $45–$55 bottles. That mid-tier zone where magic sometimes lives.

The clerk behind the counter looked like he’d smoked more brisket than he’d sold bottles, but he leaned in and said:
"These here drink like they’re dipped in gold. You just gotta know which ones.”

That day, I walked out with a Wild Turkey Rare Breed, a Stellum Bourbon, and a grin that didn’t leave my face until Sunday. Every pour that weekend? Smooth, spicy, and way too good for the price.

🥇 The Weekly Pour

Bottle: Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye
Price: ~$40
Proof: 112.2
Age: Blend of 4–6 year ryes

Nose: Mint, clove, cracked pepper, and brown sugar
Palate: Spicy cinnamon up front, with honey, citrus, and a punch of oak
Finish: Long and peppery with a sweet rye kiss at the end

✅ Barrel proof rye that sips smoother than expected
✅ Bold, spicy, and a fan favorite for bourbon lovers crossing into rye
✅ Drinks like it should cost $80—and you’re getting it for half that

🛒 Buy it now → Barrel Shoppe – $32

Bottle: Stellum Bourbon
Price: ~$54
Proof: 114.98
Age: NAS (blend of older barrels)

Nose: Cherry cola, baking spice, vanilla
Palate: Peppery, bright citrus, smooth oak
Finish: Clean and modern

✅ High-end flavor from a younger brand
✅ Great balance of sweet + spice
✅ Tastes like a $90 bottle in disguise

🛒 Buy it now → Stellum Bourbon – $51.99

Bottle: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Whiskey
Price: ~$49
Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Age: Not stated, but typically 4–7 years

Nose: Vanilla, toasted oak, a touch of banana
Palate: Rich caramel, baking spice, dark chocolate
Finish: Long, sweet, and slightly smoky

✅ Single barrel complexity at a killer price
✅ Smooth but bold Tennessee profile
✅ Great crossover pick for bourbon or Scotch fans

🛒 Buy it now → JD Barrel Select – $44.99

🍹The Art of Mixing

Maple Spice Old Fashioned

Ingredients

• 2 oz Stellum Bourbon

• 0.25 oz maple syrup

• 2 dashes walnut bitters

• Orange twist

Instructions

1. Stir all ingredients over ice

2. Strain into a rocks glass

3. Garnish with orange twist

Tip: Add a toasted pecan on a cocktail pick for extra flair.

🍖 Flavor Pairing Picks

Pair them with:

🍗 Pulled pork sliders — Sweet + smoky meat meets spice-forward bourbon
🍑 Grilled peaches + ricotta — Fruitiness softens higher proofs
💨 Arturo Fuente Double Chateau — Smooth draw complements rich, barrel-aged flavors

🧠 Big Lesson of the Week

Price tags don’t pour flavor—barrels do.
And some of the best bottles on the shelf aren’t top-shelf—they’re just smart picks.

🥂 Final Toast

Here’s to bold sips, smart buys, and Friday nights that taste like paydays.

🥃 Repeatable Proverb

“Drink with wisdom. Spend with guts.”

📖 The Whiskey Journal Is Here

For those of us who believe every bottle tells a story worth writing down.

I finally released The Art of the Pour Official Whiskey Tasting Journal—the same one I use to jot down:

🖋️ Tasting notes, barrel picks, and “finally cracked it open” moments
🗓️ First pours with friends
🧠 Thoughts that hit halfway through a good pour

🎁 And because I love a good surprise, I’m throwing in a free printable Whiskey Tasting Wheel—yep, the one folks keep asking about from past newsletters.

Already a subscriber? You’re first in line.
👉 Get the Journal + Free Whiskey Wheel

Now Its Your Turn

Got a $50 bottle that drinks like a hundred? Share it below 👇
Or hit ⭐ to save this list for your next bottle hunt.
Sharing’s caring—send this to your favorite pour pal.

Cheers to smart shelves, smooth sips, and bottles worth bragging about,

Ethan “Neat” Whitmore

P.S. Tuesday, we talk about the crown jewel. Your top-shelf trophy bottle. The one you break out when it really matters. Stay tuned 👑