The Miksologist

We’ve all been there (probably). Maybe we’re working paycheck to paycheck, or maybe the car needed some repairs and that month’s discretionary budget (and next month’s) has been spent. Whatever it is, we have to make money stretch a bit more than we’d like.

And yet we still want a good cocktail. That’s a hell of a pickle to be in. Luckily there are some Budget Booze options out there. “Bottom-shelf” does not necessarily mean “bottom-shelf quality.”

With names like Old Grandad, Old Crow, Duggan’s Dew, and Evan Williams trying oh-so-hard not to look like a blatant rip off of Jack Daniels, it is hard to be inspired by one’s sub-$15 options. But if you keep an open mind you’ll find that price isn’t everything.

Take Old Overholt rye whiskey. Aged 3 years, unassuming bottle that aesthetically isn’t trying to stand out amongst the competition. It’s priced at a point to appeal to those on a budget, and at $13, it makes a compelling argument. But is it good?

Short answer – it depends. It’s 40% ABV, so nothing special, but it’ll get you drunk just as as 12-year Macallan. It is spicy and rough around the edges, and not as smooth as, say, Maker’s Mark. But it has a LOT of flavor. It doesn’t really have much of a finish, other than burn.

I tested this out in a Manhattan, which is probably my favorite rye whiskey cocktail. I used the following: 3-to-1 ratio of Old Overholt to Dolin sweet vermouth, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, and garnished with a cherry.

Verdict: Really tasty. It’s not quite as good as my go-to whiskey (bonded Rittenhouse Rye) but it’s still enjoyable. But I would shell out the extra $5-$7 to get the Rittenhouse.