10 Tips for Bottom Shelf Shopping

Everybody’s been reaching for premium, allocated, and single barrel bottlings in recent years, but what about the whiskeys on the lower shelves, even the bottom shelf? If you’re looking to discover some gems at the bargain end, here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of it.

1. Jump Right In

Scan the bottom shelf and look for the cheapest bottle there. Examine it to determine whether it’s worth drinking. Then buy it or don’t; move on to the next cheapest, and so on.

2. Start With the Label

You may be in the bourbon section, but make sure bourbon is what’s in the bottle. Be on the lookout for blended bourbon, which is half bourbon and half neutral spirit (i.e., vodka). Though usually in its own section, American blended whiskey sometimes appears on the bottom shelf in the bourbon section too, but it’s typically only 20% whiskey and 80% neutral spirit, plus coloring and flavoring. So-called light whiskey might even slip in there. Spirit whiskey is another red flag. It’s only 5% whiskey.

3. Read the Fine Print

All this information must be on the label, but sometimes it’s hard to find. There’s nothing wrong with any of the above-mentioned if that’s what you like, but you don’t want to buy one thinking it’s straight bourbon or rye. If you see straight whiskey on the bottom shelf, that’s a good sign. You should also look for an age statement: you may have to look carefully to find it because the required age statement for whiskey under 4 years old is usually not displayed prominently. Suntory’s Old Crow bourbon, for example, is 3 years old.

4. Look for These Good Signs

The best thing to find on the bottom shelf is straight bourbon without an age statement, because that means it’s at least 4 years old. Also, the word “Kentucky” on the label doesn’t necessarily make it better, but it probably means it came from a major distillery, so it shouldn’t be too bad.

5. Check Out That ABV

Everything on the bottom shelf will probably be 40% ABV, so if you spot something higher down there, give it a look. The 50% ABV versions of Heaven Hill’s J.T.S. Brown or MGP/ Luxco’s Rebel can sometimes be found there.

6. Color Is Important

This is also a good time to look at color. Unlike scotch, American straight whiskeys can’t include caramel coloring, so color means something. Color doesn’t always track with flavor, but there are no guarantees in any of these suggestions anyway. They’re just ways of increasing your odds of success.

7. Brave the Unknown

When it comes to brands on the bottom shelf, you can never be sure what you’ll find. Don’t be afraid of unfamiliar labels. Especially now, with American whiskey stocks having moved from shortage to surplus, unknowns may be great finds. Some will be house brands, others will be independent bottler brands. They may be a one-off, so if you find one you like, stock up.

8. Bottom Shelf Kings

Among national brands, Sazerac’s Benchmark is the king of the bottom shelf. Though not distributed as widely, Sazerac’s Very Old Barton is a perennial bottom-shelf gem. Their Ancient Age is another one. They are three different recipes, too. Some brands have both top-shelf and bottom-shelf expressions. Heaven Hill’s 80° proof Old Fitzgerald Prime is bottom shelf, as is Four Roses bourbon. For rye whiskey, Suntory’s Jim Beam and Old Overholt are usually the best deals, but here too the brand you’ve never heard of might be a better bet.

9. Check Those Sales and Closeouts!

Careful shoppers will often find that something on sale is the best value in the store. Jim Beam white label isn’t normally bottom shelf, but it’s frequently on sale, so it might be just as inexpensive. After browsing the bottom shelf, make sure you check all the case stacks and end caps. Many stores also have a closeout area that’s worth a look.

10. Have Fun with It, No Matter What

If you get something you don’t particularly care for, have fun with it: Doctor it with vanilla or pancake syrup, use it in a cocktail that isn’t whiskey-forward, add it to an infinity barrel or a house blend, etc. There are no guarantees on the bottom shelf, but at least it’s low risk and offers the potential to find yourself an affordable favorite.